West Texas Intermediate crude rose to a two-month high on a report showing that fewer Americans than projected filed applications for unemployment benefits.

Futures climbed as much as 0.4 percent. U.S. jobless claims fell by 42,000 to 338,000 last week, Labor Department data show. The median forecast of 42 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a drop to 345,000. A government report tomorrow will probably show U.S. crude supplies slipped 2.3 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey. Markets in London and New York were closed yesterday for Christmas.

WTI for February delivery rose 24 cents to $99.46 a barrel at 11:09 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract touched $99.65, the highest price since Oct. 22. The volume of all futures traded was 83 percent below the 100-day average. Prices have advanced 8.3 percent in 2013, set for the fourth annual gain in five years.

Brent for February settlement fell 1 cent to $111.89 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The volume of all futures traded was 85 percent lower than the 100-day average. The European benchmark grade traded at a $12.43 premium to WTI, down from $12.83 on Dec. 24.

Gold prices are rising moderately on light volume , but they can finish the year the sharpest drop in more than 30 years because of the rise in stock markets and an optimistic forecast for the world economy .

Over the year, the price may be reduced by almost 30 percent, which would be the biggest drop since 1981 , including in connection with the reduction of Fed stimulus .

Analysts and traders expect further decline in the coming year , although more moderate . Several banks, including Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas and Societe General, suggest that in 2014 the price will fall below $ 1,150 .

According to the data released today , the number of Americans filing initial claims for unemployment benefits fell for the first time in three weeks. This is a sign of force return to the labor market , which has recently showed signs of growth.

As reported by the U.S. Labor Department , the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits , which are an indicator of layoffs, in the week December 15-21 fell by 42,000 and adjusted for seasonal variation was 338,000 . Economists had expected a rise in the number of applications to 382,000 .

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1215.40 per ounce.

U.S. stock-index futures climbed, as data showed fewer Americans than projected filed applications for unemployment benefits last week.

Global markets:

Nikkei 16,174.44 +164.45 +1.03 %

Hang Seng 23,179.55 +257.99 +1.13 %

Shanghai Composite 2,073.1 -33.25 -1.58 %

Crude oil $99.45 (+0.23%).

Gold $1212.40 (+0.76%).

Data

05:00 Japan Bookmark new homes, y / y +7.1% +9.5 November% +14.1%

05:00 Japan confidence index in the small business December 51.1 51.1

The euro exchange rate rose slightly against the dollar, which is likely due to the expectations publishing data on employment in the United States. Recall that at 13:30 GMT The Ministry of Labour will publish data on the number of new applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. last week. According to the median forecast of economists , the number of applications has grown up to a week for 3 thousand - to the level of 382 thousand

We also add that given the fact that trading volume today is quite low and there were no data for the euro area , the U.S. reaction to the data can be extremely unpredictable , especially if the data will be noticeably better or worse than the forecasts of experts.

The yen fell to a five-year low against the dollar amid speculation that the Bank of Japan will continue to unprecedented incentives, while the Federal Reserve reduces quantitative easing , as the U.S. economy recovers . According to the published minutes of the last meeting today, Bank of Japan , held 20-21 November , one of the leaders of the Central Bank said that the GDP data for the period from July to September , may indicate that the trend of economic growth turned around and began descending .

" One member said that the slowdown in real GDP growth may not be a temporary phenomenon , but rather indicate a trend reversal down " - said in a summary of the discussions held at the meeting.

Recall that the Bank of Japan at its meeting upheld the current monetary policy , as well as an overall assessment of the economy , saying that the recovery was " moderate ."

Nevertheless , the central bank revised its outlook on the state of overseas economies , understated weakness emerging economies. According to the minutes , all nine members of the Bank of Japan unanimously voted to keep the bank's policy unchanged , as expected by economists. Next meeting on monetary policy the Bank of Japan is scheduled for 21-22 January 2014.

EUR / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.3695

GBP / USD: during the European session, the pair rose to $ 1.6400

USD / JPY: during the European session, the pair rose to Y104.82

At 13:30 GMT the United States declares including initial claims for unemployment insurance . at 23:30 GMT Japan will announce the change in our level of household expenditure , and publish data on consumer price index for November and the consumer price index for Tokyo in December . Also at this time go out preliminary data on industrial production and change in retail sales for November.

EUR/USD

Offers $1.3800, $1.3770/80, $1.3750, $1.3730

Bids $1.3650, $1.3620, $1.3600, $1.3590

GBP/USD

Offers $1.6480, $1.6450, $1.6410, $1.6390/400,

Bids $1.6325/20, $1.6300, $1.6295/90, $1.6280/75

AUD/USD

Offers $0.9050, $0.9020, $0.9000, $0.8980/90, $0.8955/60

Bids $0.8855/50, $0.8825/20, $0.8800, $0.8780

EUR/JPY

Offers Y144.00, Y143.80,

Bids Y142.50, Y142.05/00, Y141.80/60, Y141.50, Y141.25/20

USD/JPY

Offers Y105.00, Y104.80,

Bids Y104.00, Y103.80/75, Y103.65/60, Y103.50

EUR/GBP

Offers stg0.8480, stg0.8467, stg0.8435/40, stg0.8415/20, stg0.8400, stg0.8380/85

Bids stg0.8330/20, stg0.8300/290, stg0.8260/50, stg0.8250

00:00 United Kingdom Bank holiday

00:00 Canada Bank holiday

00:00 Germany Bank holiday

00:00 Switzerland Bank holiday

05:00 Japan Housing Starts, y/y November +7.1% +9.5% +14.1%

05:00 Japan Small Business Confidence December 51.1 51.1

The yen weakened to a five-year low versus the dollar amid speculation the Bank of Japan will continue unprecedented stimulus while the Federal Reserve pares quantitative easing as the U.S. economy recovers.

Japan’s currency dropped for a fourth day before the U.S. announces jobless claims today and after Bank of Japan minutes showed one board member said a slowdown in growth could represent a downward shift in trend. Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits probably fell to 345,000 in the week ended Dec. 21, according to economists ahead of today’s data. Monthly employment figures are due on Jan. 10, with the jobless rate forecast to remain at a five-year low of 7 percent.

BOJ board members agreed to examine risks and adjust policy as needed, according to minutes of their Nov. 20-21 meeting released today. One member said anticipation of more easing could lead to economic instability.

The yen also slid to a five-year low versus the euro as the Nikkei 225 Stock Average (NKY) extended gains after yesterday closing above 16,000 for the first time in six years.

Australia’s dollar declined against all its major peers.

EUR / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose to $ 1.3690

GBP / USD: during the Asian session, the pair rose to $ 1.6395

USD / JPY: during the Asian session, the pair rose to Y104.75

Asian stocks rose, with the regional benchmark poised for its longest winning streak in three months, led by Japanese stocks as the Topix index rose to a five-year high after the yen fell.

Nikkei 225 16,174.44 +164.45 +1.03%

S&P/ASX 200 Closed

Shanghai Composite 2,073 -33.25 -1.58%

Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest carmaker, advanced 2.9 percent in Tokyo.

SoftBank Corp. added 3.4 percent in Tokyo on a report it’s likely to raise funds to buy T-Mobile US Inc. in the U.S. bond market.

Rex International Holding Ltd. slumped 9.4 percent in Singapore after the oil explorer said a joint venture suspended its first well in Oman.

00:00 United Kingdom Bank holiday

00:00 Canada Bank holiday

00:00 Germany Bank holiday

00:00 Switzerland Bank holiday

05:00 Japan Housing Starts, y/y November +7.1% +9.5%

05:00 Japan Small Business Confidence December 51.1

13:30 U.S. Initial Jobless Claims December 379 382

21:30 U.S. API Crude Oil Inventories December -2.5

23:30 Japan Household spending Y/Y November +0.9% +1.9%

23:30 Japan Unemployment Rate November 4.0% 3.9%

23:30 Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index, y/y December +0.9%

23:30 Japan Tokyo CPI ex Fresh Food, y/y December +0.6% +0.7%

23:30 Japan National Consumer Price Index, y/y November +1.1%

23:30 Japan National CPI Ex-Fresh Food, y/y November +0.9% +1.1%

23:50 Japan Industrial Production (MoM) (Preliminary) November +1.0% +0.6%

23:50 Japan Industrial Production (YoY) (Preliminary) November +5.4%

23:50 Japan Retail sales, y/y November +2.3% +2.9%