Oil fell for a second day as U.S. crude inventories were forecast to increase and on concern that a deal for Greece to buy back its bonds may falter.

Prices dropped as much as 1 percent as oil supplies probably grew 350,000 barrels last week, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg before an Energy Department report tomorrow. If the Greek emergency aid package agreed to by European finance ministers falls through, it could hold up disbursements of bailout funds to the nation.

In the latest bid to keep the 17-nation euro intact, European finance ministers eased the terms on emergency aid for Greece.

The finance chiefs cut the rates on bailout loans, suspended interest payments for a decade, gave Greece more time to repay and engineered a bond buyback. The country was also cleared to receive a 34.4 billion-euro ($44.7 billion) loan installment in December.

Oil also followed declines in U.S. stocks amid the ongoing budget debate in Washington and concern about the so-called fiscal cliff. Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess this week, seeking a budget deal to avoid $607 billion of automatic tax increases and spending cuts from kicking in next year.

Crude for January delivery fell to $86.83 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices are down 12 percent this year.

Brent for January settlement slid $1.31, or 1.2 percent, to $109.61 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Gold cheaper against the strengthening dollar after U.S. consumer confidence reached a four-year high

In November, the U.S. consumer confidence (confidence index Conference Board) reached 73.7 - the highest since February 2008 - vs. 73.0 and 72.2 the previous month. This is a sign of potential growth expenditures.

As shown by the report, the percentage of Americans who plan to buy a home, rose to a record high, suggesting that the recovery of the housing market and the labor market allow households decided on long-term costs. Sustained recovery in consumer spending, which account for a significant share of the U.S. economy, could help to overcome concerns about the impending "financial failure."

House price index fell from +0.7% to +0.2% vs. +0.4%. Richmond Fed index jumped from -7 to 9 against expectations of -2. Housing prices S & P / Case-Shiller rose to 3.0% vs. 2.9% expected and revised from 2.0% to 0.8% of the previous value.

Earlier, gold prices rose by almost $ 3 thanks to an agreement on international creditors Greece reduce its debt.

Euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund as a result of 12-hour talks on Monday agreed to reduce Greece's debt by 40 billion euros, which will allow them to allocate new loans to Athens. With this news the euro rose to a month high against the dollar.

The market continues to monitor the talks in the U.S., designed to help the country avoid a financial crisis at the beginning of next year. Republicans in Congress on Monday, President Barack Obama offered a detailed description of the proposed spending cuts and confirmed the rejection of higher taxes on the rich, the Democrats proposed.

Activity in the physical market of Asia decreased after small scrap sales on Monday, according to dealers.

December futures price of gold on COMEX today fell to 1742.50 dollars per ounce.

Change % Change Last

Oil $87.74 0.00 0.00%

Gold $1,748.90 -0.70 -0.04%