West Texas Intermediate crude fluctuated between gains and losses as freezing temperatures in the U.S. spurred energy demand and as U.S. fuel supplies rose.

Prices moved in an 83-cent range. The coldest air in almost 20 years is sweeping over the central U.S. toward the East Coast, threatening to topple temperature records. Inventories of gasoline and distillate fuels, including diesel and heating oil, jumped to a two-month high in the week ended Dec. 27, the government reported Jan. 3. WTI dropped the most in 18 months last week.

WTI for February delivery was unchanged at $93.96 a barrel at 10:23 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, it touched $93.76, the lowest price since Dec. 3. The grade declined 6.3 percent last week, the steepest loss since June 2012. The volume of all futures traded was about 33 percent below the 100-day average.

Brent for February settlement climbed 38 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $107.27 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Volume was 11 percent below the 100-day average. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $13.31 to WTI. The spread was $12.93 on Jan. 3.

Gold prices are rising fourth consecutive session , despite a sharp fall.

The euro rose against the U.S. dollar, and a weakening dollar has made a favorable buying gold .

Today we have published data from Markit Economics, which showed that activity in the U.S. service sector continued to grow steadily in December , albeit slightly lower than anticipated .

According to the report , the final index of business activity for the services sector amounted to 55.7 points in December , compared with the initial reading at the level of 56.0 points, and the final value of November at around 55.9 points . Experts had expected the index to remain unchanged - at the level of 56.0 points.

In addition, it was reported that the composite index , which covers the production and service sectors also fell slightly in December - to 56.1 from 56.2 in November. Nevertheless , the index indicates a strong increase of activity in the manufacturing and services sectors combined.

In turn, the December index of business activity in the U.S. service sector , calculated by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) fell, while reaching the level of 53.0 , compared with the November reading at around 53.9 . According to experts , this indicator would grow to 54.6 .

All the basic sub - codes , apart from one in December remained on site expansion ( greater than 50 ) . The greatest impact on the reduction of sub- indices had orders and business activity. Growth was sub-index of employment and prices.

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1247.70 per ounce.