Oil: an overview of the market situation

The price of oil rose moderately today , as new unrest in eastern Ukraine have heightened tensions between Russia and the West. As it became known , to quell unrest in eastern Ukraine , where pro-Russian protesters occupied administration buildings in Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv were sent additional forces . Meanwhile , Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from the power crisis in the country.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged not to escalate the situation in the east of Ukraine. During a press conference in Paris , he called Russia " retreat ." "If Russia further intervene in the events in Ukraine , it would be a historic mistake ," - said the secretary general of NATO. Rasmussen also said that Russia may be isolated.

It is also worth noting that the news of the resumption of the two ports in Libya, through which oil exports , have put pressure on prices . It is expected that the rebels controlling the east of the country , during the month will open two more ports . The volume of oil Libya in March 2014 fell to 250 thousand barrels per day , because of what has become the latest country on this indicator in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries .

Rising oil prices also slowed amid expectations of easing tensions between Iran and the West after Tehran said it soon hopes to begin to develop a final agreement to end the confrontation over its nuclear program .

The price of oil also came under pressure on the eve of release of data on oil reserves in the United States . According to the latest forecasts gasoline inventories last week , which ended April 4 , decreased by 1 million barrels to 214.6 million barrels. Distillate stocks , in particular fuel oil and diesel fuel , are supposed to remain at the level of 113 million barrels , after two weeks of growth in a row. In general, oil is supposed to be increased by 1.4 million barrels to 381.5 million

May futures for U.S. light crude oil WTI (Light Sweet Crude Oil) rose to $ 101.36 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).

May futures price for North Sea Brent crude oil mixture rose to $ 106.28 a barrel on the London exchange ICE Futures Europe.