West Texas Intermediate crude fell for a second day as the dollar strengthened against a basket of other major currencies and Egypt’s interim leader pushed ahead with a timeline for a new government.

Prices dropped as much as 0.8 percent as the Dollar Index climbed to a three-year high. Egypt’s parliamentary and presidential elections, unveiled in a 33-article constitutional declaration late yesterday, came as the fatal shooting of more than 50 Islamists by the army threatened the transition. About 10 percent of Middle East crude moves through the Suez Canal and the Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline, both controlled by Egypt.

WTI for August delivery slid 26 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $102.88 a barrel at 10:47 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The volume of all futures traded was 21 percent above the 100-day average for the time of day.

Brent for August settlement fell 7 cents to $107.36 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Volume was 5.9 percent below the 100-day average.

Gold prices are rising, as the data of the acceleration of inflation in China increased the appeal of the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.

Consumer price inflation in China in June accelerated more than expected by analysts. The consumer price index in June rose by 2.7% compared with the same period last year, higher than the growth of 2.1% in May and the forecasts of economists, who had expected price growth of 2.5%.

The growth of the dollar against a basket of world currencies slowed, but analysts believe that the upward trend will continue due to the expectations of the Fed's reduction incentive program. Reducing incentives will increase interest rates and the dollar, making gold less attractive to investors outside the United States.

Gold fell by almost 10 percent since Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced in June its intention to commence the reduction of the central bank buying up bonds this year. Investors are waiting for the protocol of the June meeting of the Committee on the work of the Federal Open Market, which will be published on Wednesday.

Traders attributed the rise in prices on Tuesday as technical purchases after passing the mark of $ 1,245 per ounce.

Stocks of the world's largest exchange-traded fund backed by gold (ETF) SPDR Gold Trust fell to its lowest level since February 2009 946.96 tons.

The cost of the August gold futures on COMEX today rose to a high of $ 1258.70 an ounce.

Change % Change Last

GOLD 1,235.10 22.40 1.85%

OIL (WTI) 102.81 -0.41 -0.40%