(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Gold $1,341.4 +6.70 +0.50%

ICE Brent Crude Oil $107.84 -1.16 -0.06%

NYMEX Crude Oil $100.91 -1.45 -1.42%

Oil prices declined moderately , helped by data from China , who reported an unexpected decline in exports , which, in turn, has increased concerns about slowing economic growth in the country 's second-largest oil consumer .

Futures fell 1.7 percent after it was announced that China's overseas delivery in February fell by 18.1 percent compared with a year earlier , showing the biggest decline since August 2009 . Many experts predicted an increase in exports by 7.5 percent . Imports grew by 10.1 %, compared with forecasts of an increase of 8%. According to customs data, the volume of imported oil to China in February was 23.05 tons, 18.1% below the January figure. A significant reduction in Chinese exports has led to a deficit of $ 22.98 billion last month, compared with a surplus of $ 31.86 in January. Analysts had expected a surplus of $ 13.2 billion in February.

A separate report showed that consumer price inflation in China increased by 2% in February last year , in line with expectations , while producer price inflation fell by 2 %, compared with forecasts for a 1.9 % drop .

Price dynamics also affects the situation in Libya . Note that Parliament ordered to send troops to Libya to release oil from ports seized their militias. Military operation to accomplish this task will begin within weeks . March 8 militants , who have taken control of one of the ports of Libya , said he started to trade oil . In the port of Essaouira Cider tanker came under the flag of North Korea , which began in the Gulf oil. Libyan authorities have threatened to destroy the aircraft using the vessel if it tries to leave the port .

April futures price for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) fell to $ 101.19 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

April futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell 61 cents to $ 108.04 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices rose slightly today , which was associated with strong U.S. employment data , which was presented at last week's sharp fall in Chinese exports , as well as the persistence of tensions in Ukraine.

Recall that the precious metal fell 0.8 percent on Friday after data showed that the U.S. had created 175,000 jobs , which was higher than expected , and increased chance to continue to reduce QE by the Federal Reserve System.

Meanwhile, experts say that current concerns about the confrontation in Ukraine are one factor in the growth of metal prices .

Investors in the global markets pessimistic about the data published recently in the second largest economy in the world . Report released at the weekend showed a sharp drop in exports, while other data showed the weakening of the manufacturing sector and a sharp slowdown in inflation. Anxiety can also be observed in the financial sector after the country on Friday was a first corporate default.

Also note that hedge funds and money managers increased their "bullish" position in gold futures and options in the fourth consecutive week , as geopolitical tensions increased speculative interest in gold, and contributed to the rise in prices to their highest level in more than a year .

The data also showed that the gold reserves in the SPDR Gold Trust rose 1.5 tonnes on Friday , recording their first inflow since February 25.

The cost of the April gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1342.70 per ounce.