Oil prices were down in Asia as the dollar strengthened and amid market speculation that Saudi Arabian crude production could increase in the coming months. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, shed 57 cents to $94.65 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April dropped 61 cents to $114.99.

The price of oil eased slightly, reflecting caution as investors wait for the latest US employment figures. Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 24 cents to $91.33 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained $1.13 to finish at $91.56 a barrel on Nymex on yesterday, pushed higher by the release of data showing a drop in applications for unemployment benefits in the US.

The price of oil fell after a stronger jobs growth in the US sparked speculation of an earlier end to the Federal Reserve's loose monetary policy. Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 23 cents to $91.72 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 39 cents to finish at $91.95 a barrel on previous trading session after the US government said employers added 236,000 jobs in February, far exceeding predictions. The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% from 7.9%.

The price of oil fell below $92 per barrel as traders absorbed the impact of choppy economic data from China and stock markets showed signs of fatigue after big gains. Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 18 cents to $91.88 per barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 11 cents to end at $92.06 a barrel on the Nymex in previous trading session. Disappointing French industrial production data coupled with weaker indicators from China over the weekend on retail sales and industrial production, weighed on oil markets.

Oil prices rose for a 5th straight trading session despite expectations a report on weekly US crude stocks will show ample inventories. Benchmark oil for April delivery was up 19 cents to $92.73 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contact rose 48 cents to finish at $92.54 per barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday. The Energy Information Administration's supply report will be out later Wednesday. Last week it said the nation's supply of crude was 10.3 percent above year-earlier levels. And US oil production, at more than 7 million barrels a day, is at the highest level since the late 1990s.

Oil prices were pushed lower by higher-than-expected US crude inventories and disappointing industrial production in Europe. Benchmark oil for April delivery was down 24 cents to $92.28 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 2 cents to close $92.52 on the Nymex on previous trading session.