The cost of oil futures rose today, while reaching the highest level this year amid speculation that growth stocks is beginning to slow.

According to the company Genscape Inc., crude oil inventories in Cushing rose less than 500 thousand. Barrels last week, which is considerably less than the increase that is observed in recent months. In Genscape also reported that in the second half of last week, stocks fell in Cushing. Recall, US Energy Information Administration will release official data on stocks of petroleum products in the environment.

Little support prices also had the decision of the Central Bank of China, which has lowered the reserve requirement of commercial banks by 100 basis points to 18.5%. In this case, Agricultural Bank of China was allowed to reduce the reserve requirement ratio by 200 basis points. Vacant as a result of measures taken means banks will have to submit to increase liquidity and lending of various industries in the country.

In addition, market participants continue to analyze data on the number of drilling rigs in the United States. Recall, according to a report by Baker Hughes, for the week of April 17 in the United States ceased to operate another 34 rigs, their total number dropped to 954. The number of oil drilling decreased by 26 - to 754. The greatest losses suffered drilling in Texas. However, in the largest shale basin - Permian - closed only 6 drill. In general, the rate at which oil shale company rolled drilling due to low oil prices have fallen markedly. At the beginning of the year this week in the US was closed from 80 to 100 drilling. During the year the volume of drilling in the US fell by half. Against this background, the growth of oil production has stopped. "When the US goes into a real decline in production, I think that oil prices still rise. But the prices in the United States are unlikely to be much higher than $ 65, and the price of Brent linger at around $ 70, because even with the reduction of production in the US market will receive enough oil, "- said a senior analyst at CMC Markets, Rick Spooner.

The rise in prices is also linked to the deteriorating situation in Yemen. About 100 people were killed on Sunday in southern Yemen in the fighting between Shiite rebels and supporters Huthis incumbent President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, local media reported. It was noted that the most violent clashes took place near the town of al-Dalia.

May futures for US light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) rose to 58.20 dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

June futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mix increased by 10 cents to 63.66 dollars per barrel on the London Stock Exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices fell markedly, reaching a level with the $ 1190 per ounce, which was caused by the strengthening of the dollar and rising US stock indices against the decision of the Central Bank of China. Stronger US dollar usually has a negative impact on the price of gold, as decreases the attractiveness of the precious metal as an alternative asset and makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for buyers in other currencies.

Recall, the People's Bank of China (PBC) reduced reserve requirements of commercial banks by 100 basis points to 18.5%. In this case, Agricultural Bank of China was allowed to reduce the reserve requirement ratio by 200 basis points. Vacant as a result of measures taken means banks will have to submit to increase liquidity and lending of various industries in the country.

Decline in the value of precious metals has also been associated with the statements of the ECB Draghi, who has rejected speculation about the failure of Greece from the euro, confirming that the European single currency is irreversible. At the conference during a meeting of prominent financial officials Draghi said he continues to insist on comments made in August 2012. More about the euro, then he said "irreversibility euro." The risk of a Greek exit increases due to the resulting impasse between Greece and its creditors. Meanwhile maturity debt Athens must come in the coming weeks. Draghi declined to say how the ECB will respond to the Greek default, saying: "I do not want to even discuss such a scenario. We all want to have all happened in Greece." In addition to the Greek situation, Draghi said that the eurozone economy is on a firmer basis than it has been for many years.

Little support prices have expectations of the meeting of the Federal Reserve in late April, from which investors hope to get new hints for a period of rising interest rates. "Uncertainty in the period of rising interest rates allows gold to rise, and if they start serious concerns about geopolitical events in Greece or elsewhere, they also support gold," - said a senior strategist at ING Bank Hamza Khan.

Meanwhile, adding that the demand for physical gold market remains weak. Margins in China are held at Friday - $ 1 per ounce to the international standard.

The cost of the June gold futures on the COMEX today fell to 1192.90 dollars per ounce.

According to a report in the financial news magazine Caixin, the People's Bank of China will inject more than $60 billion of foreign exchange reserves into two state-owned policy banks to support the government's overseas development plans. China's central bank will inject $32 billion into China Development Bank and $30 billion into Export-Import Bank of China.

According to Chinese news, China will launch three new free-trade zones on Tuesday. The free-trade zones will be opened in Guangdong and Fujian provinces in the south and the northern port of Tianjin. Each free-trade zone will cover around 120 sq km.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) announced on Sunday that it lowered the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves. The government hopes to spur bank lending and combat slowing growth. The central bank cut the reserve requirement ratio for all banks by 100 basis points to 18.5%.

The cut is effective from April 20.

The reserve requirement ratio will be lowered by another percentage point for rural banks, two additional percentage points for the central bank's Agricultural Development Bank, and a further 0.5% for banks lending to agriculture and small businesses.

The oil driller Baker Hughes reported that the number of active U.S. rigs declined by 26 rigs to 734 last week, the lowest weekly level since November 2010.

Combined oil and gas rigs fell by 34 to 954, the lowest level since July 2009.

(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Oil 55.74 -1.71%

Gold 1,203.10 0.00%