West Texas Intermediate crude rose to the highest in more than two weeks as strong refinery demand reduced U.S. inventories.

Prices gained for a third time in four days. U.S. refineries operated at the highest rate in nine years in the week ended July 11, according to the Energy Information Administration. Crude inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI, dropped to a six-year low as oil flowed to the Gulf Coast where prices were higher. Brent was steady as the U.S. and Europe threatened further sanctions against Russia.

"The supply side really should keep us higher," said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group in Chicago. "Cushing is the delivery point so the drawdown there is giving the market a boost. The drop at Cushing is definitely favoring WTI over Brent."

WTI for August delivery, which expires tomorrow, gained 74 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $103.85 a barrel at 9:54 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The more-active September future was up 30 cents at $102.25. The volume of all futures was about 17 percent above the 100-day average.

Brent for September settlement gained 2 cents to $107.26 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The volume of all futures traded was about 19 percent below the 100-day average for the time of day. WTI was at a discount of $5.06 to Brent on the ICE, down from $5.29 on July 18.

Gold prices are rising moderately after fell on Friday as investors reduced the scope of the safe haven in his possession, re-evaluating the geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe.

On Thursday, gold prices showed the sharpest increase in nearly a month when Malaysian airliner crashed near the Russian-Ukrainian border. This crash occurred amid escalating violence in Ukraine, raised questions about Russia's role in the conflict. Gold is considered by some investors protection against geopolitical risks.

Rising gold prices was a "reflex reaction" to the news, said Frank McGhee, Broker Integrated Brokerage Services LLC in Chicago. "Theoretically, such a development could lead to a wider confrontation between the U.S. and Russia," - he said.

However, on Friday, President Barack Obama signaled that the U.S. limited to diplomatic efforts on the Ukrainian question, but will coordinate their efforts with European allies to put pressure on Russia.

"Yes, gold is rising against the backdrop of geopolitical problems, but this growth is very often ends up pretty quickly," - says Dennis Gartman, investor and publisher of the Gartman Letter.

Traders in the gold market is also closely watching the Middle East, after Israel on Thursday evening started a ground operation in Gaza. Israel sent thousands of troops with tanks and armored vehicles to the Palestinian territory after a ten-air bombing.

The cost of the August gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1319.00 per ounce.

(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Light Crude 102.88 -0.24%

Gold 1,309.40 -0.57%