(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Gold $1,311.2 -21.80 -1.64%

ICE Brent Crude Oil $106.81 -0.11 -0.10%

The euro exchange rate against the dollar rose sharply , returning with all previously lost ground and setting a new high . Impact on the dynamics of the U.S. data , as well as statements by the Fed . As it became known , the index of business activity in the U.S. industry from Markit in March , according to preliminary data , down to 55.5 . Preliminary data include approximately 85% of the respondents' answers . The business activity index fell to 45 -month high , but growth continues. The growth rate was only slightly lower than the three-year high , which the index reached in February. Manufacturers say that the higher level of output due to an increase in new orders , and the desire to reduce the backlog . Companies began to overcome deceleration caused by weather conditions in the winter. The growth rate of export orders decreased but continues for the second month in a row.

Meanwhile , the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco John Williams said that the Fed last week did not make assumptions about what the Fed will start raising rates earlier than expected . Investors appreciated earlier comments from Fed Chairman Janet Iellen on Monday that the first rate hike could begin six months after the completion of the redemption of bonds as a "hard" . Williams said that such expectations were on the market, and he sees nothing that would indicate intention to tighten monetary policy sooner than expected . Williams called regarded as a "signal of tightening policy" simply a response to a comment recently yield stronger -than-expected unemployment data.

The Australian dollar rose against the U.S. dollar, which has been associated with the decision agency Fitch, as well as U.S. data . Note that the rating agency Fitch announced its decision to leave Australia at the same rating at AAA with a stable outlook , as the country has managed to maintain stability to external shocks due to " the presence of a strong economic and institutional foundations , including the highly developed and flexible economy , as well as a reliable political rate and effective political and social institutions . " However, the agency noted factors , mainly related to the slowdown in China's economy that could potentially determine the downgrade in the future : deterioration in the trade balance, large-scale problems in the banking sector or unsuccessful rebalancing the economy.

Oil prices fell slightly today , which was associated with the release of weak Chinese data indicating that the decline in demand in the world's largest oil consumer . Meanwhile, add that support prices has the possibility of supply disruptions due to the oil crisis in the Ukraine and the turmoil in Libya.

According to preliminary estimates HSBC, the index of business activity in the industry in China in March fell to eight-month low , amounting to 48.1 points versus 48.5 points in February. Analysts , on the contrary , expect growth to 48.7 points. A reading above 50 indicates growth in economic activity, lower - its decline.

" Expectations about China remain low. Statistics in February was weak and the market regains deteriorating outlook for growth " - believes the chief strategist at CMC Markets Michael McCarthy.

Not pleased investors and statistics from the eurozone . Composite index of business activity in industry and services (PMI) in the region, according to preliminary estimates , in March fell to 53.2 points from 53.3 points in February . Analysts believed that the rate will remain at the level of February.

At the same time, investors continue to monitor developments in Ukraine and Libya, as well as their possible impact on the volume of shipments of "black gold " in Europe. In Libya, the government is still trying to establish control over numerous fighters that have captured several port facilities and oil and gas sector .

Meanwhile , we add that the seasonal decline in consumption caused nearly 5 percent decline Brent price since early March , when quotes briefly rose to a three-month high above $ 112. Experts note that the offer on the market is now clearly exceeds demand. Production in the U.S. continues to grow and is at thirty- highs and crude oil reserves , according to the Energy Information Agency report , published in the previous week increased by 5.9 million barrels to 379 million at the same time in power load warehouses gasoline fuel loading refineries the country has fallen to 85.6 percent.

May futures for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) fell to $ 99.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

May futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell $ 0.30 to $ 106.83 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices fell markedly today , reaching with one-month low , which was associated with increased expectations about rising interest rates in the U.S. in early 2015 .

Recall that at the end of last week, the precious metal fell by 3.5 per cent , showing the maximum decline since November after the statements of the U.S. Federal Reserve about the possible failure of the program to stimulate the economy this year and an increase in interest rates since 2015 .

" The mood in the market is probably a little ahead of the event - said Ted Harper of Frost Investment Advisors LLC. Invest in gold in the next 6-12 months is likely to be problematic. Raising rates could be somewhat sharper and faster , which adversely affects the value of the precious metals . "

The dynamics also affect data that showed that manufacturing activity in China deteriorated again in March. The preliminary value of China's manufacturing index from HSBC fell to an eight-month low of 48.1 in March, with a final value of 48.5 in February. Analysts had expected the index to rise to 48.7 .

Meanwhile , the research group Markit said that preliminary index of manufacturing activity in Germany retreated to four-month low in March - to 53.8 from 54.8 in February , compared with expectations falling to 54.7 . Nevertheless , a preliminary value of the manufacturing index rose to 33 in France -month high of 51.9 in March from 49.7 in February , compared with expectations of an increase to 49.8 .

99.99 fine gold on the Shanghai Gold Exchange traded cheaper spot market and futures in the United States . Surcharge for gold bars in Hong Kong has not changed from last week - $ 1 per ounce to the spot price in London

Stocks of the world's largest gold exchange-traded fund secured SPDR Gold Trust rose on Friday by 0.52 percent to 816.97 tons.

The cost of the April gold futures on the COMEX today dropped to $ 1312.60 per ounce.