The market declined despite expectations the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies will hold off on increasing output in February.
Brent futures dropped 73 cents, or 1.4%, to $51.07 a barrel
The support is identified as the 23.6% retracement of a five-wave cycle from $39.34. The wave c is expected to travel to $47.81, its 100% projection level.
It is too early to confirm a reversal of the uptrend, simply based on the drop from the Dec. 18 high of $52.48. Resistance is at $51.83, a break above which could lead to a gain to $52.15.
Oil prices also sank as the new containment measures hammered expectations for travel over the Christmas period, with the discovery of a mutated and more infectious strain of the coronavirus in Britain also leading several governments to ban flights from the country.