Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test
Published . Updated .
Key takeaways
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Oil traders are betting on a breakthrough in the US-Iran conflict with WTI crude facing up against key levels on the chart
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- USO United States Oil Fund+6.3% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR+6.9% 30d
Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- IAI iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF
iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF: it holds exchanges and brokers. Linked by “betting” (exchanges and trading) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF-3.3% 17d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “oil” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+2.0% 16d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+9.6% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- OXY Occidental Petroleum+10.3% 18d
Occidental Petroleum (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
- SHEL Shell+3.5% 11d
Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USO | +15.71% | +7.84% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLE | +8.14% | +5.85% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| IAINo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| BWETNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | +8.08% | +6.08% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVX | +6.66% | +5.01% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| OXYNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHEL | +5.73% | +3.06% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test investingLive
Source: investingLive
How far United States Oil Fund (USO) has moved since 5 Nov 2026
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron (CVX) | three days earlier | +5.01% | final price |
| Chevron (CVX) | five days earlier | +6.66% | final price |
| Shell (SHEL) | three days earlier | +3.06% | final price |
| Shell (SHEL) | five days earlier | +5.73% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | +7.84% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | +15.71% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | three days earlier | +5.85% | final price |
| Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) | five days earlier | +8.14% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | three days earlier | +6.08% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | five days earlier | +8.08% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 22 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 66 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 22 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 43 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 64 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Occidental Petroleum (OXY), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 76 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 71 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 73 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 76 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around United States Oil Fund (USO)
The side that tends to collect
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
In “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test,” ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- CVX Chevron
For “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test,” Chevron (CVX) tends to benefit, medium confidence. Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
No up or down call on file
- USO United States Oil Fund
In “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test,” United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- XLE Select Sector Spdr Tr
In “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test,” Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- COP Conocophillips
In “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test,” Conocophillips (COP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
- SHEL Shell
Shell (SHEL) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 5 Nov 2026 story “Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test.” Reason on file: Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
How energy news reaches United States Oil Fund (USO)
“Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test” (5 Nov 2026) reaches United States Oil Fund (USO) through Energy.
The link for United States Oil Fund (USO) is this: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Also listed, Select Sector Spdr Tr (XLE): Energy Select Sector SPDR: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “oil” (oil) in this story
Price levels for United States Oil Fund (USO)
USO traded between 142.51 and 171.80 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 158.17. XLE traded between 63.05 and 70.15 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 66.70. XOM traded between 172.72 and 188.47 across 16 sessions. The latest close on file is 177.51.
How strong the case is around United States Oil Fund (USO)
46 out of 100
“Oil prices plunge after US midterms as WTI crude faces a critical technical test” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.