Live WTI & Brent Crude Oil Futures Prices Today (2025) - Real-Time Charts, Market Analysis & 52-Week Trends
Live WTI & Brent Crude Oil Futures Prices Today (2025) - Real-Time Charts, Market Analysis & 52-Week Trends
Hey folks, let's talk about what's really driving oil markets this week. As of Friday's close (August 29, 2025), we're seeing some interesting action in both major benchmarks that's worth breaking down. I've been trading oil futures for over a decade, and this current setup reminds me alot of the 2018 sideways pattern that eventually broke out spectacularly. Here's what you need to know about where prices are and where they might be headed.
Key Takeaways
- WTI closed at $64.01 (-0.91% on the day) while Brent settled at $67.45 (-0.78%), with both benchmarks posting weekly gains despite monthly losses
- Technical indicators show conflicting signals with moving averages suggesting sell while oscillators show neutral momentum
- Geopolitical factors including Ukraine ceasefire talks and OPEC+ output decisions are creating volatility
- Backwardation persists in the futures curve with front-month contracts trading higher than deferred months
- Key resistance levels to watch: $80.59 for WTI and $82.63 for Brent (52-week highs)
1. Current Oil Market Snapshot
As of Friday's close, WTI Crude (West Texas Intermediate) sits at $64.01 per barrel, down 59 cents (-0.91%) on the day. Meanwhile, Brent Crude, the international benchmark, closed at $67.45 per barrel, down 53 cents (-0.78%). Both contracts saw reduced volume ahead of the long weekend, with WTI moving 163,134 contracts and Brent seeing 263,595 .
The day's range for WTI was between $63.88 and $64.55, showing pretty tight trading action compared to some of the volatile sessions we've seen lately. Brent traded in a slightly wider range between $67.29 and $67.94. What's interesting here is that despite the daily drop, both benchmarks actually posted there second consecutive weekly gain, which suggests we might be forming a bottom around these levels .
The open interest for December 2025 WTI contracts (CLZ25) sits at 269,988, which is notably below the 65-day average volume of 105.22K. This relative lack of participation tells me traders are waiting for clearer signals before committing to big positions, especially with the OPEC+ meeting coming up next week .
2. Today's Price Action & Momentum
Friday's session showed classic pre-weekend profit taking after a couple days of gains. WTI hit it's daily high of $64.55 early in the session before selling pressure pushed it down to the day's low of $63.88. The settlement at $64.01 represents a middle-ground that doesn't really show strong conviction either way .
Volume patterns are telling here - with 163,134 contracts traded for WTI, we're seeing about 35% less activity than recent averages. This light volume makes price movements more susceptible to exaggerated swings, so I wouldn't read to much into Friday's dip alone. The prevailing trend remains cautiously bearish in the short-term, with both benchmarks recording there first monthly drop in four months .
The settlement type for these contracts is physical delivery, which matters because traders rolling positions can create additional price pressure around expiration dates. WTI's October 2025 contract (CLV25) will settle on September 22, 2025, while Brent's November 2025 contract will settle on September 30, 2025. If your trading the front months, keep a close eye on these dates as rollover dynamics can create temporary distortions .
3. This Week's Performance & Trends
Despite Friday's pullback, both WTI and Brent posted weekly gains - a somewhat surprising development given the overall bearish sentiment that's dominated most of August. WTI showed a 5-day performance of +0.02%, which isn't much but does break the consistent downward momentum we've seen .
The monthly picture tells a different story though. WTI's down 8.56% over the past month while Brent has fallen 6.93% over the same period. This contradiction between weekly gains and monthly losses creates an interesting tension in the market. From my experience, when we get these mixed signals across timeframes, it often precedes a more decisive move once a catalyst emerges .
Year-to-date performance remains negative for both benchmarks, with WTI down 7.80% and Brent showing similar declines. The 1-year performance metrics are even worse, with WTI down 12.97% and Brent down 12.32% compared to this time last year. This longer-term perspective is important because it shows we're still in a broader corrective phase despite recent weekly bounces .
Table: Weekly Performance Comparison (as of August 29, 2025)
4. 52-Week Range & Key Levels
The 52-week range for WTI stands between $55.12 and $80.59, which means we're currently trading roughly in the middle of this annual range. For Brent, the 52-week range is between $58.40 and $82.63, putting current prices similarly in the middle of the annual range .
These ranges matter because they show us key support and resistance levels that traders are watching. The psychological $60 level for WTI and $65 for Brent represent important support zones that, if broken, could trigger another leg down. On the upside, the $70 level for WTI and $75 for Brent represent significant resistance that would need to be broken to signal a more sustained recovery .
From a technical perspective, we're currently trading below both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages for both benchmarks, which typically indicates a bearish intermediate-term trend. However, the fact that we've held above the yearly lows despite several tests suggests there's decent buying interest around these levels. I've noticed that commercial hedgers have been increasingly active around the $60 WTI level, which often provides support .
5. Futures Contracts Deep Dive
Let's break down the contract specifications because understanding these mechanics is crucial for trading success. Each WTI futures contract (ticker: CL) represents 1,000 barrels of oil, with a tick size of 0.01 (equivalent to $10 per tick). The point value is 1 = $1,000, meaning each dollar move in the price of oil translates to a $1,000 change in contract value .
The trading months for WTI are F, G, H, J, K, M, N, Q, U, V, X, Z (January through December in exchange jargon). This liquidity across the curve allows traders to establish positions in various calendar months, which is particularly important when dealing with term structure dynamics like backwardation or contango .
Looking at the forward curve, we can see that later-dated contracts are trading at a discount to front-month prices. For example, the December 2025 contract (CLZ25) settled at $63.01, while the June 2026 contract settled at $62.27. This backwardation structure suggests relatively tight current supply conditions despite the broader price weakness .
Table: WTI Futures Contract Specifications
6. Market Technical Analysis & Indicators
The technical picture is mixed right now, which reflects the market's uncertainty. On the daily charts, WTI shows a Strong Sell signal based on technical indicators, while moving averages suggest a Sell bias. However, Brent tells a slightly different story with a Neutral technical summary and Buy signal from moving averages .
This divergence between the two benchmarks isn't unusual, but it does create opportunities for spread trades. The WTI-Brent spread currently sits around $3.44, which is within the normal historical range but slightly toward the wider end. This spread reflects relative supply-demand balances between the U.S. and international markets, with a wider spread typically indicating stronger U.S. production or storage levels .
Key resistance levels to watch for WTI are $65.00 (psychological level), $67.50 (recent swing high), and then the big one at $70.00. On the support side, $63.50 provided some buying interest on Friday, with more significant support at $62.00 and then the critical $60.00 level. A break below $60 would likely trigger another wave of selling toward the yearly lows around $55 .
7. What's Moving Oil Markets Right Now
Several key factors are influencing prices right now. First, the potential Ukraine ceasefire talks are creating downward pressure as traders anticipate reduced geopolitical risk premium. Earlier in the week, Ukrainian attacks on Russian export terminals had pushed prices higher, but reports of potential negotiations have eased those concerns .
Second, attention is focused on next week's OPEC+ meeting, where the group is expected to discuss accelerated output increases. The market seems to be pricing in a likelihood of additional supply coming online, though these gains have yet to fully reach the U.S. market. From what I'm hearing from contacts, there's some disagreement within OPEC+ about production levels, which could lead to surprises .
Third, U.S. demand concerns are weighing on markets as the summer driving season ends. Gasoline demand typically drops off after Labor Day, and refiners will soon begin seasonal maintenance, reducing their crude intake. The EIA reported larger-than-expected crude inventory draws this week (-2.39 million barrels vs. -6.01 million previous), which indicates ongoing demand in industrial and freight sectors but weakening consumer demand .
8. How to Approach This Market Now
Given the current environment, here's my take on how different traders might approach this market:
For short-term traders, range-bound strategies might work best given the lack of clear direction. The key levels I'm watching are $63.50 support and $65.00 resistance for WTI. Breaking either of these levels with conviction could trigger a 2-3 dollar move in the direction of the breakout.
Swing traders might want to wait for a clearer trend to emerge. The monthly decline suggests the bearish momentum might not be exhausted yet, but the weekly gain shows there's buying interest at these levels. I'd be looking for either a break above $67.50 or below $62.00 to establish longer-term positions.
For position traders and investors, the current prices might represent a decent accumulation zone if you believe in the long-term oil story. The backwardation in the futures curve provides a positive roll yield for long positions, which helps offset carrying costs. Dollar-cost averaging into energy ETFs like USO or BNO might make sense for those with longer time horizons.
Risk management is crucial here - I'd recommend keeping position sizes modest until we get clearer direction from either the technicals or fundamentals. The OPEC+ meeting next week could be the catalyst that breaks us out of this range, so be prepared for increased volatility around that event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between WTI and Brent crude oil?
WTI (West Texas Intermediate) is extracted primarily from U.S. oil fields and serves as the main benchmark for North American crude. It's slightly lighter and sweeter (meaning lower density and sulfur content) than Brent. Brent crude comes from North Sea fields and serves as the benchmark for international prices, particularly in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The price difference between them (the spread) reflects transportation costs, quality differences, and regional supply-demand balances .
Why are oil futures prices different depending on the month?
Futures contracts for different months reflect changing expectations about future supply, demand, storage costs, and interest rates. When near-term contracts trade higher than later-dated ones (backwardation), it typically signals tight current supply. When later-dated contracts trade higher (contango), it suggests adequate current supply but expectations for higher future prices or significant storage costs .
How much does one oil futures contract cost?
Each standard WTI futures contract represents 1,000 barrels of oil. At current prices around $64 per barrel, the notional value of one contract is approximately $64,000. However, traders don't need to put up the full amount thanks to margin requirements. Initial margin requirements vary by broker but typically range from 5-15% of the contract value, meaning you might need $3,200-$9,600 to control one contract .
What time do oil futures trade?
Oil futures trade nearly 24 hours a day on the CME Globex platform. The official trading session runs from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Central Time Sunday through Friday, with a 60-minute break each day between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. CT. The most liquid trading periods typically overlap with regular U.S. equity market hours .
What moves oil prices the most?
Key drivers include: OPEC+ production decisions, global economic growth expectations, geopolitical events, U.S. shale production levels, inventory data (especially weekly EIA reports), currency fluctuations (particularly the USD), and seasonal demand patterns. Recently, expectations about electric vehicle adoption and energy transition policies have also become increasingly important factors .
Note: All price data as of August 29, 2025 settlement. Market conditions may change rapidly, so verify current prices before making trading decisions. Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors.