Crude prices mixed in Asian trade

Dip in US industrial output spurs concerns about lagging economic activity

Oil prices were mixed in Asia today with downward pressure coming from a slip in US industrial output, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March eased 14 cents to $95.72 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April added 26 cents to $117.92.

Trading was restrained "after an unexpected dip in US industrial production spurred concerns about lagging economic activity", Phillip Futures said in a report.

Official data Friday showed industrial production in the United States -- the world's largest economy and oil consumer -- contracting 0.1% in January, with manufacturing output falling 0.4%.

"Economists had been expecting a modest increase in industrial output in January," Phillip Futures said.