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WORLD oil prices turned higher in Asia on Friday after recent choppy trade with markets weighing the likely slowing of economic growth against concerns about tight supplies, dealers said.
In afternoon trade, New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May, rose 47 cents to 104.30 dollars (S$144) per barrel.
The benchmark contract fell one dollar to 103.83 dollars per barrel at the close of floor trading on Thursday at the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent North Sea crude for May advanced 41 cents to 102.93 dollars a barrel, after settling at 102.52 dollars on Thursday in London.
The markets digested comments on Wednesday from US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that the US economy could slide into a possible recession during the first half of 2008.
They also mulled news from the International Monetary Fund that it would cut its global growth forecast by a substantial half a percentage point to 3.7 per cent.
'Economy, economy, economy... That's the number one concern, followed by supply worries,' said Tony Nunan of Mitsubishi Corp's international petroleum business in Tokyo.
'Any news that is hugely bearish will cause prices to go down' but the market had expected Mr Bernanke's comments, Nunan said.
Crude futures
Crude futures rocketed on Wednesday after the US government's Energy Information Administration said American gasoline reserves tumbled by 4.5 million barrels last week. Market expectations had been for a lighter drop of 2.5 million barrels.
At the same time, the EIA said US crude inventories had surged by 7.4 million barrels in the week ending March 28.
The gain smashed analysts' consensus forecast for a gain of 2.25 million barrels.
The market is beginning to closely watch gasoline inventories ahead of the United States' peak demand season for motor fuel, which begins in May when Americans begin their summer vacations.
US unemployment figures due for release on Friday will be closely watched as traders mull the health of the American economy.
'The main statistic for the week will be the employment number... and would-be sellers on oil will stay on the sideline until then,' said Petromatrix analyst Olivier Jakob. -- AFP
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