NEW YORK – Crude prices fell slightly on Monday as traders continued to assess a slow economic recovery the strength of U.S. oil and gas demand.

Benchmark crude for May delivery lost 13 cents at $84.79 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier prices extended to $85.44.

Crude shot to an 18-month high above $87 last week from $69 in early February on optimism that oil demand would grow with a recovering global economy. But U.S. petroleum consumption remains weak.

Oil prices eased back Wednesday on a report showing crude inventories grew more than expected last week and that supplies of gasoline were still well above average.

Benchmark crude for May delivery fell 96 cents to settle at $85.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 22 cents to settle at $86.84 on Tuesday after hitting an 18-month high of $87.09 a barrel.

NEW YORK – Oil prices rose above $85 a barrel Thursday, boosted by encouraging economic news and rising stock markets ahead of the Good Friday holiday.

Benchmark crude for May delivery rose $1.14 to $84.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, crude reached $85.22, the highest level since January. Crude prices have been locked in a range of $70 to $85 for most of the last six months.

Oil prices rose near $84 a barrel Wednesday as the dollar weakened and oil traders shrugged off weak job news and a bigger-than-expected build in crude inventories.

Benchmark crude for May delivery climbed by $1.39 to settle at $83.76 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

'The bottom line is this is just a market that's advancing in a relatively thin pre-holiday atmosphere,' said oil analyst Jim Ritterbusch. 'The market is zeroing in on the fact that the dollar is weak.'

LONDON (Reuters) – World equities ticked down on Wednesday though they were headed for their fourth consecutive quarterly rise, while the dollar hit a three-month high against the yen and the Australian dollar fell.

Copper prices retreated on concern about a supply surplus in China, the world's top consumer of industrial metals, and safe-haven government bonds were flat in the last trading day of the quarter.

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Top privately run refiner Reliance is expected to raise crude oil imports by about 22 percent this year as it ramps up production at its giant complex, further stamping its mark on world markets.

To maximise profit margins with its sophisticated refining capability, Reliance Industries is also set to limit African crude imports this year in favour of Middle East grades, if light crude prices continue to strengthen against heavy-sour grades, traders and analysts said.

NEW YORK – Oil prices held almost steady, above $82 a barrel Tuesday, propped up by consumer confidence numbers that were better than expected.

Benchmark crude for May delivery added 4 cents to $82.21 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude fell 35 cents at $80.82 on the ICE futures exchange.

Oil prices stayed above $82 a barrel Tuesday, clinging to gains from the previous day fueled by a U.S. dollar drop and surging equity markets.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for May delivery was up 17 cents to $82.34 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier in the session, it peaked at $82.74.

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose to near $83 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, extending gains from the previous day fueled by a U.S. dollar drop and surging equity markets.

Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 41 cents to $82.58 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $2.17 to settle at $82.17 on Tuesday.

SINGAPORE – Oil prices were steady above $82 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, pausing after a leap the previous day fueled by a U.S. dollar drop and surging equity markets.

Benchmark crude for May delivery was up 6 cents to $82.23 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $2.17 to settle at $82.17 on Tuesday.