WTI-Brent Spread
Spread trading, defined as trading on the changes between two different prices of the same instrument simultaneously, occupies a very special segment of the futures market. There are a number of different types of spreads, however, some combinations have attracted enough investors for the market to treat them as separate assets so they can be traded in a standardized form. Becoming independent instruments then causes an options market to form around them, which also allows for an easier tracking of their results. Investors have had their eyes on the differences in price between the two most iconic assets of the oil futures market (West Texas Intermediate & North Sea Brent Crude) for a long time. As such, it’s no surprise that they were one of the first to receive their own independent spread instrument.
The basic issue used to be that Brent is a product of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) while WTI is a product of the CME group’s NYMEX under the CL symbol. Brent’s often referred to as the barometer of the global oil market, as it makes up two thirds of the world’s crude oil trade. ICE Brent represents the quality of oil extracted from the North Sea and also acts as a benchmark for both Middle Eastern and Russian oil. WTI on the other hand can be considered the USA’s own individual oil product. In general, the WTI is of a higher quality than Brent so it commands a higher price as well, however, the differences in global demand for oil and the demand for US oil specifically can sometimes affect this gap in pricing.
A key requirement for the formation of the spread instrument was that individual contracts for both assets each represent one thousand barrels of oil, making the two easier to compare. To trade the spread, you would sell one contract and buy the other, thus avoiding the risks of the base product’s price swings in favor of capitalizing on the difference in price at the time of striking. For example one would buy the higher priced contract and sell the lower, if one expects the spread to increase. In the case of an ICE „Brent/WTI spread” buying one contract actually means one contract for buying WTI and one contract for selling Brent. Assuming that the price of WTI was higher than that of Brent at the time it was issued, the price difference would be positive, however, the opposite case of Brent being valued higher would lead to the peculiar situation of it being negative. It’s amusing to imagine the idea of receiving ten dollars for buying a contract valued at minus ten dollars, although it doesn’t actually work that way, since the purchase of said contract wouldn’t lead to negative cash flow.
Due to price quotes for both products being expressed in increments of 0.01 dollars, this distance forms a permanent minimum difference between the two. Furthermore the spread carries less risk than the buying and selling of regular oil futures, since both individual assets are subject to the product’s basic price trends and thus tend to move somewhat similarly to varying degrees. This allows the combined asset to be traded both at a lower initial margin as well as without having to use twice the margin for two separate assets. The distance of the spread between the two oil products has historically moved in a range of $0 to -$10 over the past three years. Meanwhile the price of WTI ranged from $26 to $76 and Brent from $27 to $87 over the same period.
Brent/WTI spread between January 2016 & November 2018
Due to the difference in volatility, the individual assets provide significantly more opportunities for those aiming to do short term speculative trading. Trading the spread requires an entirely different approach that relies heavily on detailed analysis of the fundamentals behind the global oil market. In this case the emphasis is on discerning the outlook of US oil production and how demand for it will differ from the oil markets of the rest of the world.
A comparison of Brent & WTI price movements
The WTI’s price lag is mainly due to the USA’s pursuit of energy independence, as the chart below illustrates.
One of Donald Trump’s objectives as President was to deregulate the oil industry and motivate the sector to increase its production in hopes of reaching a level of output that could make the country self-sufficient in that area. This effort has been successful in some respects, as the latest production figures show that the amount of oil extracted in the US today is the highest in history. This amount would be enough to cover 57% of the domestic market’s demand, as opposed to the 50% that production levels in 2017 could cover. At the same time the shift towards energy independence also means moving away from the global market, meaning the US could become potentially capable of controlling economic processes through regulating its own prices. Currently the US has sanctions against both Venezuela and Iran, thus lowering global oil supply while at the same time the Trump administration continues pressuring OPEC countries into increase their production. These circumstances make the uncertainties surrounding the supply of oil arise primarily around sources outside the USA, where high oil prices backed by a strong dollar act as an inflation inducing effect. This may also partially be the reason why European and Asian countries are averse to raising their low interest rates, even though it would help them combat the USA’s interest rate advantage. For Trump on the other hand, weakening the dollar would be necessary to accomplish his other objective of improving US trade balance. Meanwhile the WTI is slowly lagging behind Brent in price, causing rising oil prices to affect US inflation to a lesser (although still notable) extent. The relative balance of the US domestic market can largely be attributed to and economic policy that supports production, thus keeping the price of WTI low and as a result creating a larger market for domestic producers. The effect of course is the stimulation of the economy.
In that regard the USA’s current economic policy aligns well with Trump’s goals. The spread between the two oil products, which stabilized at $10 in recent months, serves the US government’s interests. The rising international tensions could push the price of Brent higher than WTI, which will lead to the spread increasing. Although the current $10 may seem high, it could still potentially rise to as much as $20 as the US heads towards its 12 million barrels production goal.
Written by,
Laszlo | Market Analyst
Disclaimer:
Leveraged trading is high risk and may not be suitable for everyone as your losses may exceed your investment. We advise you to consider whether trading is appropriate for you in light of your experience, objectives, financial resources, risk tolerance and other relevant circumstances. Ensure you fully understand all of the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary. Please refer to our full disclaimer for more details. We recommend that you seek independent financial advice and ensure you fully understand the risks involved before trading. Trading through an online platform carries additional risks.