West Texas Intermediate traded near the lowest price in almost six months and at the steepest discount to Brent since March, as crude stockpiles rose for a 10th week in the U.S., the world’s biggest oil consumer.

Futures were little changed in New York after declining 1.5 percent yesterday, the most in two weeks. Crude inventories climbed by 2.95 million barrels to 391.4 million, the highest level since June, Energy Information Administration data show. Supplies were forecast to increase by 750,000 barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Oil’s moving averages have formed a “death cross,” a bearish technical signal.

WTI for January delivery was at $92.25 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, down 5 cents, as of 2:34 p.m. London time. The contract slid $1.38 to $92.30 yesterday, the lowest close since May 31. The volume of all futures traded was 88 percent below the 100-day average. Prices have dropped 4.3 percent in November. Floor trading is closed today because of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

Brent for January settlement slipped 8 cents to $111.23 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices are up 2.2 percent this month. The contract was at a premium of $18.97 to WTI, compared with $19.01 yesterday, the widest spread in more than eight months based on closing prices.

Gold prices rose after three days of decline due to demand in China, but the decline in the number of applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. holding back growth.

The number of initial claims for unemployment benefits in the U.S. fell for the sixth time in seven weeks , signaled the continued strength of the labor market . Investors watch for those in search of employment guidance regarding future monetary policy of the USA , as the Fed's stimulus program has long supported gold prices . Investors fear that the good economic statistics give the Fed reason to start reducing incentives.

Stocks of the world's largest exchange-traded fund backed by gold (ETF) SPDR Gold Trust on Wednesday declined by 5.7 tonnes to 843.21 tonnes - the lowest level since early 2009. YTD fund holdings declined by more than 450 tons , as investors increased investments in the stock markets. YTD Gold fell more than 25 percent.

Demand for gold in China, which this year is expected to become the world's largest gold market instead of India , rose this week due to lower prices. On Thursday, gold trading volume of 99.99 percent of the sample on the Shanghai Gold Exchange rose to the highest since October 8 level of 18.3 tons.

In October, China has increased gold imports from Hong Kong to near record levels , buying more than 100 tons of the sixth month in a row against the backdrop of an unprecedented high demand.

The cost of the December gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1244.80 per ounce.

GOLD 1,237.80 -3.60 -0.29%

OIL (WTI) 92.33 -1.35 -1.44%