(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Light Crude 54.89 +1.44%

Gold 1,198.20 +0.28%

Oil prices moderately decreased, returning to the level of $ 60 per barrel (mark Brent), after rising more than 3 percent earlier today, as many traders are wary of further increase. It is worth emphasizing, Brent prices dropped by 50% since June due to increase oil production in the US, failure of OPEC to reduce production and the weak global economic growth. On Wednesday evening, world oil prices rose markedly, exceeding the level of $ 63 (Brent). However, analysts attributed this jump in prices is not fundamental factors, but rather to the high volatility in the market.

Initially, the rise in price of oil today was caused by reports that the company plans to reduce investments in exploration after a sharp fall in prices. Chevron Corp indefinitely postponed plans to drill in the Beaufort Sea, and Marathon Oil in the coming year will reduce capital expenditures by 20 percent. Canadian oil company Husky Energy, MEG Energy and Penn West Petroleum also plans to reduce investment.

"It seems that investors prefer to support near $ 60 a barrel," - said Daniel Ang, an investment analyst at Phillip Futures, adding that the decline in investment in production will be felt in the market in the second quarter of 2015.

Support prices have also had statements of the minister of oil of Saudi Arabia, who reiterated that OPEC or Saudi Arabia would be difficult to reduce the volume of production, and added that the market is experiencing temporary difficulties, mainly due to the weakening global economy.

Another factor was the growth of the statement of Russian President Putin, who assured that the Russian economy will recover and stop the fall of the national currency, and noted that the current crisis will last no more than two years.

Cost of January futures for US light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) dropped to 55.58 dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

January futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mix fell by $ 0.51 to $ 60.15 a barrel on the London Stock Exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold has risen in price considerably today, updating the yesterday's high, but has lost all positions on positive US data. Substantive support to the precious metal had yesterday's decision by the Fed. Recall, the Fed has indicated that it may raise interest rates next year, correct wording that will keep them close to zero level "extended period" of time and demonstrating confidence in the US economy. The final statement after a two-day FOMC meeting informed that he will adhere to the "patient" approach to the solution, when to raise the cost of borrowing. "Based on current estimates, the committee believes that it can be patient with the beginning of the normalization of monetary policy," - said the Fed, which called him "consistent" with the previous wording that higher rates will be preceded by a "significant period of time."

Meanwhile, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen said that the central bank is unlikely to raise short-term interest rates, at least until spring. She added that this estimate is, of course, depends entirely on the data.

It should be emphasized that in recent years the commodity markets benefit from a program of monetary easing by the Fed, on the other hand, are under pressure if the bank tightens its policy. According to most economists, the largest US banks surveyed after the Fed meeting on Wednesday, the central bank to raise rates for the first time until June, and enhancements will be more. Experts also believe that the growth in demand for gold in the largest consumers of China and India will support prices in the coming year.

Pressure on prices has had a strengthening US dollar exchange rate, which was caused by the publication of data on the labor market. The Labor Department said the number of Americans who first applied for unemployment benefits fell last week and remained near 14-year lows, becoming the latest data showing an improvement in the labor market. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, the sensor layoffs, reduced by 6000 and reached a seasonally adjusted 289,000 in the week ended December 13th. On Thursday. Economists had expected 297,000 new claims. Moving average for four weeks, which smooths the volatile weekly data, fell by 750 to 298 750. The report also showed the number of people who continue to receive unemployment benefits fell by 147,000 to 2.37 million in the week to December 6.

The cost of the December gold futures on the COMEX today returned to 1194.40 dollars per ounce.

Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate are trading significantly higher today as recent selloffs to five-year lows were judged excessive by market participants. Speculations on low oil prices affecting future production further stabilized prices. Oil fell by almost half since June under pressure from concerns about forecasts slow recovery in global demand and oversupply of stocks. Last Friday, the International Energy Agency cut its forecast for global oil demand next year by 230,000 barrels per day to 900,000 barrels after similar cuts by OPEC and the Office of information in the field of Energy.

Brent Crude added +3.06%, currently trading at USD63.05 a barrel. Crude hit a low at USD58.50 this week. West Texas Intermediate rose +3.03% currently quoted at USD58.18.

Gold prices rally after yesterday's FED statement to start rising interest rates next year but not in the first quarter and the positive outlook on the U.S. economy. The precious metal is currently quoted at USD1,209.40 or +1,89% a troy ounce, back above the important level of USD1,200.00 after trading at a two-week low at 1,183.40 yesterday. Yesterday data showed that U.S. consumer prices rose 1.3 percent with oil near 5-year lows.

GOLD currently trading at USD1,209.40