Crude prices mixed in Asian trade

Singapore, Feb 18 (AFP) Oil prices were mixed in Asia today with downward pressure comeing 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 USD 95.72 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April added 26 cents to USD 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 per cent in January, with manufacturing output falling 0.4 per cent. "Economists had been expecting a modest increase in industrial output in January," Phillip Futures said. (AFP) ZH 02180927 NNNN