Brent crude halted its longest run of declines since August on concern that clashes between Iraq’s government and Al-Qaeda-linked militants may disrupt oil output.

Futures rose as much as 0.7 percent, ending a five-day losing streak, amid fighting in the city of Fallujah and surrounding Anbar province in Iraq, the largest crude-producing OPEC member after Saudi Arabia. German unemployment fell for the first time in five months in December, signaling increased confidence by companies in Europe’s largest economy.

Brent for February settlement rose 43 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $107.16 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange at 10:47 a.m. in New York. The volume of all futures traded was 7.7 percent below the 100-day average.

West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery increased 49 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $93.92 a barrel on New York Mercantile Exchange. The volume of all futures traded was 16 percent lower than the 100-day average.

Brent oil, the European benchmark grade, traded at a $13.24 premium to WTI. The spread widened for a fifth day yesterday to close at $13.48.

Today the price of gold is reduced by a stronger dollar after data on the U.S. trade balance .

Recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed that exports continued to grow in November , while providing more evidence that high rates of growth abroad can improve performance for the U.S. economy .

According to the report , the seasonally adjusted U.S. exports increased in November by 0.9 % compared with the previous month , reaching at this level of $ 194.860 billion , which was the highest in history. Imports, meanwhile, fell by 1.4% - to $ 229.110 billion

Given these changes , the trade deficit narrowed in November to $ 34.250 billion , compared with a revised downward deficit the previous month at $ 39.330 billion (originally reported deficit of $ 40.6 billion). We add that the latter figure was the lowest since October 2009. Many experts predicted a decline in the trade deficit to only $ 40.2 billion from $ 40.6 billion

The global economy showed signs of stabilizing in recent months , and provided potential momentum heading for the U.S. in the new year . Weakness in Europe, Japan and some emerging markets put pressure on U.S. exporters for most of the recovery.

In addition, data showed that U.S. exports increased by 5.2 % compared with a year earlier , led by sales growth in China , Mexico and Canada . U.S. exports to China from January to November rose by 8.7% compared with the same period a year earlier . Exports to Canada , which is the largest trading partner for the United States increased by 2.5 % over the same period .

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today dropped to $ 1224.20 per ounce.

Gold $1,237.40 -0.60 -0.05%

Oil $93.66 +0.23 +0.25%