The Exxon Mobil Corp stock (NYSE:XOM) has been in a rally mode since Jan. 5, after hitting support on Jan. 4 near the upside support line drawn from the low of Oct. 29. As long as the share continues to trade above that upside line, we would consider the near-term outlook to be positive.
Yesterday, the stock continued marching north, hitting resistance fractionally below the 48.30 barrier, which is marked by the high of June 19. A break higher may carry more bullish implications and perhaps target the low of June 10, at around 50.50, or even the 52.24 area, marked by an intraday swing high formed on the same day. If neither hurdle is able to halt the advance, then investors may put the 55.35 territory on their radars. That zone is defined as a resistance by the high of June 8.
Shifting attention to our short-term oscillators, we see that the RSI, already above 70, has turned up again, while the MACD lies above both its zero and trigger lines, pointing up as well. Both indicators detect strong upside speed and corroborate our view for further advances in this stock.
In order to abandon the bullish case and start examining decent declines, we would like to see a clear dip below 42.60. This would also take the price below the aforementioned upside line and may initially target the 40.47 level, marked by the low of Dec. 21. Another break, below 40.47, may extent the slide towards the low of Nov. 30, at 38.00, or even the low of Nov. 19, at 36.50.