The value of gold against a background of declining controversial news from Europe. The concern of investors led information that Italy has worsened the budget deficit forecast for this year from 1.6% to 1.7% of GDP. In this case the target deficit for 2013 was changed from 0.1% to 0.5% of GDP.

Good statistics on the UK labor market, registered a decline in unemployment from 8.4% to 8.3%, was neutralized by weak data on production in the construction sector in the eurozone.

In addition, successful results of the auction on placement of the German debt securities.For example, Germany has attracted 4.2 billion euros by record low interest rate - 0.14%.

May futures on the COMEX gold fell today to $ 1639.1 an ounce.

Crude fell after the U.S. government reported a larger-than-expected supply gain amid speculation a slowing European economy may reduce demand.

Prices dropped as much as 1.7 percent after the Energy Department said oil inventories rose 3.86 million barrels to 369 million last week. Supplies were forecast to grow 1.8 million barrels. Refinery utilization was 84.6 percent.

Oil inventories are at the highest level since the week ended May 27, the department report showed. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute reported yesterday that oil supplies rose 3.41 million barrels to 369.3 million last week.

Petroleum demand fell 0.7 percent to 18.9 million barrels a day, according to the data. It was down 2.1 percent from the year earlier.

Crude for May delivery slid to $102.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices have risen 3.8 percent this year.

Brent for June settlement fell $1.89, or 1.6 percent, to $116.89 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Change % Change Last

Oil $104.23 +0.03 +0.03%

Gold $1,651.00 -0.10 -0.01%