(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Light Crude 97.85 -0.23%

Gold 1,309.40 -0.08%

The cost of oil futures rose moderately, while rising above $ 105 per barrel (Brent), as traders await developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. While WTI expensive third consecutive session in anticipation of data on crude oil inventories in the United States. Economists estimate that the inventory of oil in the United States dropped the seventh week in a row, down 1.3 million. Barrels.

Recall the Russian Air Force and Air Defense Forces completed command post exercise, which took place on the territory of the Russian Federation from August 4, and Israel reached an agreement with the Palestinians on a temporary cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which positively perceived by investors.

We also add that the United States inflicted air strikes on militant positions in northern Iraq, but said that a ground operation in this country will not. Market analysts predict that the American air strikes may reduce the risk of disruption of oil supplies from the country. Iraq produced about 3.5 million barrels a day of oil last month, making it the second-largest oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Iraqi President Fouad Maasum instructed to form a new government Haider al-Abadi, put forward earlier parliamentary bloc "Iraqi National Alliance" for the post of prime minister.

On the dynamics of trade also continue to influence the message from OPEC. On Friday, OPEC reduced its forecast for world oil demand in 2014 to 30 thousand. Barrels a day - up to 1.1 million. Barrels per day. Demand for oil produced by OPEC in 2014, was reduced to 9.61 million. Barrel. / Day, which is 70 thousand. Below previous forecasts. The forecast for 2015 was left unchanged at 1.21 million. Bbl. / Day. In July, OPEC oil production, thanks to Libya, rose to 29.91 million. Bbl. / Day, or 170 thousand. Bbl. / Day higher than in June.

The cost of the September futures for the American light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) rose to $ 98.29 per barrel and then declined to $ 97.25 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

September futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture rose 46 cents to $ 105.12 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices declined moderately today, departing from the three-week high, as the tension in relations between Ukraine and Russia has declined, and investors pay attention to the growing global equities.

Late on Friday the Russian Defense Ministry announced the completion of military exercises in the south of Russia, who criticized the United States as a provocative step in a crisis in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, we add that over the weekend continued clashes between security forces and pro-Russian Ukrainian rebels in eastern Ukraine after Ukraine rejected the proposal rebels a ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was Ukraine, as well as its American and European allies have accused of supporting the rebels, said the fighting pose a threat to the humanitarian crisis and offered assistance. Experts believe that the invasion of the territory of Ukraine of Russian troops could lead to another increase in the price of gold. Otherwise, investors will continue to close long positions, thus supporting the formation of a downward movement.

Also note that on Sunday the United States again inflicted air strikes on militant positions of the insurgent group Islamic state in northern Iraq to protect Iraqi civilians from the uprising, as well as its soldiers, who are in the country. On Sunday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a fresh 72-hour cease-fire in the Gaza Strip after months of violence in the territory of Hamas.

The value of the precious metal also affect expectations that the Fed is still the United States in the near future to consider the possibility of starting a rate hike (assuming that the reports will indicate the continuing recovery of the economy).

The presented data also showed that the gold reserves in the SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold exchange-traded fund, fell on Friday by 1.79 tons - up to 795.86 tons.

The cost of the September futures contract for gold on COMEX today dropped to $ 1305.90 per ounce.