Turmoil in the oil rich Middle East helped bolster energy prices, with an oil-related exchange traded fund moving toward a key resistance level.
The United States Oil Fund (NYSEArca: USO) has gained 16.6% over the past three months.
The escalating Syrian crisis has made oil traders jittery. [iShares: Middle East Tensions, Oil Prices and the U.S. Economy]
“Any type of retaliation or conflict in Syria could lead to a very rapid surge higher in USO,” Fabian Capital Management said in a blog. “The easiest way to benefit from a surge in oil prices is to use an ETF that is directly correlated with crude such as USO.” [Oil ETF Highest in Over a Year on Syria]
However, other oil observers note that USO is now struggling around another problem area witnessed in 2011 and 2012. TickerTank points to a “congestion” around the $39.75 level, writes Victor Reklaitis for MarketWatch.
“With USO trading just above 39, this makes for a good opportunity to consider a bearish options strategy with a little room for error on the upside,” TickerTank said.
United States Oil Fund
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Max Chen contributed to this article.