(raw materials / closing price /% change)

Gold $1,341.5 +5.20 +0.39%

ICE Brent Crude Oil $109.59 -1.07 -1.97%

NYMEX Crude Oil $102.05 -0.41 -0.40%

Oil prices fell today , weighed down by forecasts of growth in U.S. oil inventories . The less , supply disruptions from Libya and other countries important to keep prices from falling further .

Experts note that the improvement in weather conditions in the United States is likely to reduce the demand for heating fuel . In addition , investors are forecasting an increase in demand for gasoline before the summer driving season.

It is expected that commercial oil stocks in the U.S. rose by 1.4 million barrels on average per week on February 21. Recall that today will report on reserves American Petroleum Institute (API), and tomorrow - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). If the forecast is for oil reserves is confirmed, it will be the second weekly gain .

It is also expected that distillate stocks , including heating oil and diesel, fell by 1.5 million barrels last week. Gasoline inventories may also fall to 1.5 million

Investors are trying to assess whether improvement in the U.S. economy to increase gasoline sales enough to offset the decline in consumption of distillates and promote demand for crude oil .

" U.S. crude is now close to four-month highs. At some point, the demand for it will decrease. Have a chance to see a drop to $ 100 per barrel , and possibly even lower , "said Michael Hewson , market analyst at CMC Markets. "Prices for Brent crude continue to rely on geopolitical issues and supply ."

One of their reports presented today showed that China may increase oil imports in 2014 to 7 % - to 6.02 million barrels per day ( b / d ) against 5.63 million b / d in the previous year , experts predict. Rate of increase in the volume of imports will be a maximum of 2010 due to continued growth in demand for energy in this country. According to experts , China 's oil imports will increase this year by 380 thousand b / d - to 6.08 million b / d . According to official statistics , China 's oil imports increased in January to a record 6.66 million barrels per day. Steady growth in demand for energy in China has led to the fact that in September last year, the country temporarily bypassed the United States as the world's largest net importer of oil , reported the U.S. Department of Energy . This trend may continue in 2014 , predicts the Ministry of Energy .

April futures price for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) fell to $ 101.57 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

April futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell 83 cents to $ 109.85 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices rose today , the highest in four months , after disappointing consumer confidence data in the U.S., have increased concern about the pace of the U.S. economic recovery .

Report of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond showed that in February the production conditions in the region have deteriorated compared to the previous month . Corresponding index of manufacturing activity fell to 6 points in February compared to 12 in January. Economists had expected the index to rise to 13 points.

Key components of the index in February showed a mixed trend.

Meanwhile, the Conference Board reported that consumer sentiment index fell to 78.1 from 79.4 in January ( revised from 80.7 ) . Economists had expected a decline to 80.2 .

" Meaning potrebdoveriya index below 80 is considered quite negative for the economic prospects that are likely to help and soon overcome resistance at $ 1,337 an ounce ," said Mitsubishi analyst Jonathan Butler. " If the growth continues, the next goal would be the level of $ 1360 ."

Wave of "soft" economic data on the U.S. and China since the beginning of the year attracted investors to gold , the price of which increased by more than 10 percent so far , after falling 28 percent in 2013.

Market participants are also expected speech by Fed Yellen . Recall that on Thursday Yellen completed its first report on monetary policy to Congress . The first part of the report was announced on February 11 before the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. Yellen speech before the Senate Banking Committee was postponed from February 13 to 27 in connection with snowfall . The report is already known , interest Fed chapter answers the questions senators who most likely will relate strength estimates of U.S. economic recovery , the reasons for the sluggish improvement of the employment situation and the impact of the reduction of quantitative easing (QE) for the American and global economy.

Also presented today data showed that stocks of the world's largest exchange-traded fund backed by gold ETF SPDR Gold Trust on Monday rose by 0.41 per cent - to the level of 801.61 tons.

The cost of the April gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1341.80 per ounce.