Oil prices declined moderately today , recording the second -session decline in a row, which was associated with the release of weak data on the U.S. housing market . With this in mind , experts have begun to show concern that demand for fuel in the U.S. - the world's largest consumer - may slow .

Prices fell by 1 percent , as a report showed that new home sales in 2013 ended weaker pace , emphasizing the existing threat to the recovery of the housing market from rising prices and mortgage rates . Sales of newly built homes fell by 7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 414,000 in December from 445,000 in November. Result November was revised down to 19,000 . Economists had forecast an annual rate of new home sales at 457,000 in December , although many of them noted that the unusually cold and windy weather may have contributed to the sales activity . New home sales in December were the weakest since the summer months , when mortgage rates jumped in response to reports that the Federal Reserve plans to reduce its bond-buying program . Sales of new homes were close to an annual rate of 373,000 in July , but then recovered in the following months . The data also showed that the average selling price of a new home in December was $ 270,200 , which is 4.6 % higher than a year earlier and the highest level since April.

" The U.S. economy is stagnant , and I'm not very optimistic about this ," said Tom Finlon , head of Group LLC Energy Analytics. " There is some concern that without the stimulus the Fed , stock prices and oil prices will decline ."

Recall that on December 18 the Fed announced that reduces monthly purchases to $ 75 billion a month to $ 85 billion . Tomorrow policies will gather to consider the next step in its strategy of gradual reduction in the rate of bond purchases .

March futures price for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) fell to $ 95.89 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

March futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture fell 84 cents to $ 106.93 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.

Gold prices fell markedly today , departing from the 10 - week highs as traders began to gradually fix their positions ahead of a key meeting of the Federal Reserve this week. Recall that at the end of last year, the Fed has decided to reduce the amount of their stimulus package of 10 billion dollars a month - up to $ 75 billion . Many experts expect the Fed will reduce the amount of bond purchases by 10 billion at each subsequent meeting to end QE this year.

We add that the decline in world gold reserves by 2.3 percent last week helped secure precious metals rise on the week , which turned out to be the fifth in a row. This is the longest series of growth since mid- 2012 .

Stock markets also continued to fall today as concerns over a slowdown in China's economic growth and its shadow banking sector , combined with the expectation that the Fed will reduce its purchase of bonds , increased pressure on emerging markets with regard to their dependence on external financing . In the longer term , any recovery actions, in all probability, will limit the rise in prices of the precious metal .

Meanwhile, adding that China's net imports of gold from Hong Kong grew by 24 percent in December compared with the previous month , bringing the procurement in 2013 reached a record 1,158 tons. Net exports to China, which is the world's largest consumer of gold , rose to 94.847 tons in December from 76.393 tons in November.

"In connection with the start of the Chinese New Year , demand is likely to fluctuate at the end of the week," analysts said.

Little support gold had a statement from the Ministry of Finance of India , in which it was said that by the end of March will be revised stringent restrictions on imports of gold.

Cost February gold futures on the COMEX today dropped to $ 1260.80 per ounce.