Oil falls from close to 10-month high to near $107

SINGAPORE (AP) — Oil prices fell to near $107 a barrel Tuesday in Asia, slipping from close to 10-month highs ahead of new data on the U.S. economy.

Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 80 cents to $107.29 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.03 to settle at $108.09 in New York on Monday.

Brent crude for May delivery was down 70 cents at $125.01 a barrel in London.

Crude has jumped from $96 last month and $75 in October as signs of an improving U.S. economy boost investor confidence. Oil traders often look to stock markets as a gauge of overall investor sentiment, and the Standard & Poor's 500 rose 0.4 percent Monday to its highest close since May 20, 2008. Asian stocks were mostly lower Tuesday.

Data on U.S. housing and jobless claims later this week is likely to provide fresh cues for the oil market. A private survey of the U.S. homebuilding industry on Monday found that companies are increasingly hopeful that home sales will rise in coming months.

Tensions over Iran's nuclear program have helped to keep high prices at elevated levels. A military attack by Israel or the U.S. against Iran's nuclear facilities would likely trigger a crude price spike while renewed diplomatic negotiations would probably cause prices to drop.

"The market is anticipating additional favorable U.S. economic news," energy trader and consultant Ritterbusch and Associates said in a report. "And until concerns ease regarding Iranian risk, the market appears capable of maintaining price gains, especially if equities remain strong."

In other energy trading, heating oil was down 1.9 cents at $3.26 per gallon and gasoline futures slid 1.3 cents at $3.35 per gallon. Natural gas fell 0.3 cent at $2.35 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press.

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