Oil lower on profit-taking in Asia

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for July delivery, fell 61 cents to $ 136.07  a barrel after a jump of $ 2.67 to a close of $ 136.68 yesterday at the New York Mercantile Exchange.        

Brent North Sea crude for August delivery eased 54 cents to $ 135.90 per barrel after a gain of $ 2.72 to $136.44 yesterday in London.        

 

"We see a little bit of profit-taking so far in Asia today," said Dave Ernsberger, Asia director of global energy information provider Platts.        

"There are at least some people in Asia who think there is good value in selling at these prices."         Global finance officials fear runaway oil prices