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Crude Oil Price Forecast: Bull Flag Breakout Sets Up

By:
Bruce Powers
Published: Nov 18, 2025, 21:43 GMT+00:00

Crude oil consolidates in a bull flag just above the 61.8% Fibonacci, with the 20-day average turning higher and the falling 50-day converging on the flag’s upper boundary near $61.30.

Bull Flag Structure

Crude oil has carved a textbook bull flag directly off the 61.8% Fibonacci support zone. The pattern’s upper boundary and falling 50-day average at $61.30 are rapidly converging with the recent minor swing high at $61.43—creating a high-probability breakout pivot.

Moving Average Dynamics

Tuesday’s inside-day breakout reclaimed the 20-day average, which has recently turned higher after declining since early August. Multiple failed 50-day recovery attempts since that breakdown raise the stakes: a clean push above $61.30–$61.43 would mark the first successful reclaim in over three months.

Convergence Significance

Both the 20-day and 50-day averages are on collision course with the flag’s top trendline. Such moving-average/measured-pattern confluences frequently catalyze explosive breaks, adding technical weight to the current setup.

Upside Targets

A confirmed bull flag breakout projects an initial $64.52–$64.86 zone: the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement, a 100% ABCD projection, perfect price symmetry with the first leg higher off $56.41, and the falling 200-day average currently at $64.77 (expected to drift lower into the target band).

Counter-Trend Context

The sharp two-day advance off October’s $56.41 low represents only one impulsive leg within a larger bearish structure. Classic correction behavior typically produces two legs — making the current flag the ideal launching pad for that second-leg rally.

Risk Level

The entire bullish scenario needs to be reassessed on a decisive drop below the recent $58.24 swing low, reopening risk toward the prior flag base and deeper support.

Outlook

Crude oil stands at a pivotal inflection. A push above $61.30–$61.43 reclaims the 50-day, confirms the bull flag, and targets $64.52–$64.86 with the 200-day in play. The 20-day turn, and multi-month convergence give this setup elevated odds for success. Only failure below $58.24 delays or derails the second-leg advance.

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About the Author

With over 20 years of experience in financial markets, Bruce is a seasoned finance MBA and CMT® charter holder. Having worked as head of trading strategy at hedge funds and a corporate advisor for trading firms, Bruce shares his expertise in futures to retail investors, providing actionable insights through both technical and fundamental analyses.

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