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Oil slides on profit-taking

Singapore - Oil fell in Asian trade on Friday as investors locked in profits from recent price rises as a result of a weaker dollar and easing concerns over Greece's debt crisis.

New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in August, was down 80 cents to $94.62 a barrel in afternoon trade, and Brent North Sea crude for August dipped 81 cents to $111.67.

"The weaker dollar, Greece's successful passing of austerity measures and supportive (US) Midwest manufacturing data all helped support crude oil prices," said Ker Chung Yang, a Singapore-based analyst at Phillip Futures.

Greece's parliament on Thursday passed a tough austerity plan to avert a debt default that risked shaking the rest of Europe and the global financial system.

The passage of the measures paved the way for the release of more funds to Athens from a €110bn European Union-International Monetary Fund rescue package.

The measures include tax hikes and spending cuts expected to increase short-term economic hardship, which have triggered a general strike and violent street protests in the country.

"The recent passage of the relevant legislation in Greece's parliament will bolster Greece's efforts to implement its economic reform programme," IMF spokesperson Caroline Atkinson said in Washington.

She said discussions on the next stage of rescue financing were under way and "we hope for a positive resolution soon."

A weaker greenback has also supported oil as it makes the dollar-priced commodity cheaper, perking up demand.

Ker said however support "is limited by uncertainty about the effect of consumer nations’ release of oil reserves and lingering worries about slowing economic growth."

The International Energy Agency on June 23 announced it would release 60 million barrels of crude from strategic stocks to make up for the loss of output from Libya, where rebels have been battling to oust veteran leader Moamer Kadhafi.

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