Oil mixed in Asian trade

Oil prices were mixed in Asian trade today as worries over Ireland's massive bailout permeated the markets, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December, added 10 cents to $81.84.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in January fell three cents to $83.93.

Crude markets were being depressed by the European Union and International Monetary Fund's decision to bail out debt-stricken Ireland, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a report.

The market was worried that "the bailout of Ireland by the EU and IMF would result in a downgrade to Ireland's credit rating and potentially more austerity measures that could crimp oil demand," it said.

Oil prices tracked the foreign exchange market after the European Union and International Monetary Fund on Sunday agreed to bail out Ireland, with sources putting the cost at up to 90 billion euros ($123 billion).

The euro yesterday jumped as high as $1.3786 before falling to $1.3615 as optimism over Ireland switched to fears of contagion.