Analytics, News, and Forecasts for CFD Markets: raw news — 18-08-2014.

Brent crude fell to the lowest in almost 14 months after Kurdish and Iraqi forces seized control of Iraq's largest dam from Islamic State militants. West Texas Intermediate declined.

Brent slid as much as 2 percent. Kurdish forces and government anti-terrorism units took over the Mosul Dam after receiving air support from the U.S., reversing gains made by the Sunni-Muslim insurgents in the north, according to Iraqi military spokesman Qassim Ata. Futures rose the most in a month on Aug. 15 after Ukraine said its forces attacked and partially destroyed a military convoy entering the country from Russia.

"The anti-ISIS forces are gathering strength and making progress," said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts. "The threat has peaked, and the risk premium is declining. We are selling off from Friday's Ukraine-inspired bump."

Brent for October settlement slid $1.95, or 1.9 percent, to $101.58 a barrel at 9:39 a.m. New York time on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. It fell as far as $101.43, the lowest since June 26, 2013. The contract rose $1.46 on Aug. 15, the most since July 17. The volume of all futures traded was about 5.9 percent below the 100-day average for the time of day.

WTI for September delivery decreased $1.18, or 1.2 percent, to $96.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Volume was 2.2 percent below the 100-day average. The October contract of the U.S. benchmark crude was at a discount of $7.70 to Brent for the same month on ICE. The spread closed at $8.21 on Aug. 15, the widest since June 24.

Gold depreciates against the background of easing tensions in Ukraine, but a stable dollar limited the losses, and the price of the metal is kept in the $ 1,300 per ounce.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the negotiations between Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine in Berlin on Sunday about ways to end the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has been made "some progress".

European stock markets rose after reducing the threat of further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, although the situation remains difficult.

Dollar unchanged against a basket of currencies after the sixth consecutive week of falling, while the yield on 10-year Treasuries was close to a 12-month low reached at the previous week.

In addition to geopolitics, from 21 to 23 August, investors will be focused on the meeting of leading officials from central banks and economists in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Investors will be watching the speech from Fed Chairman Janet Yellen, who will perform for the first time on Friday in Jackson Hole at the head of the Central Bank of the USA.

On Wednesday, the Fed will publish the minutes of its July policy meeting, while the gold traders are waiting for any signs of a future increase in interest rates by the bank.

The Central Bank of the United States, is expected to raise interest rates in the middle of next year, depending on the strength of the economy. Higher interest rates will encourage investors to withdraw money from assets such as gold.

Standard Bank analyst Walter de Wet said the market does not expect the Fed's policy changes this week. "Range $ 1.284- $ 1,300 provides very good support ... the pricing in the market for the most part depends on the level of political tension," - he said.

The cost of the October gold futures on the COMEX today dropped to $ 1295.80 per ounce.