“Analysts said much of the recent trading has been based on technicals, or buying and selling based on crude’s moves above and below certain price levels. Meanwhile, the physical market — which measures the actual number of barrels around the world — is moving back toward balance after a long period of oversupply that crushed prices, they said,” according to CNBC.
Related: OPEC Headwinds Abound for Energy ETFs
Oil traders are concerned over how fast U.S. shale oil producers will increase production to capture the rising prices. Rig counts have recently ticked higher and with credit and earnings issues improving for some U.S. shale drillers, those companies may seize the opportunity to exploit higher pricing in the near-term.
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