Exports From Iraq's Southern

(Reuters) - Crude oil futures fell more than 1 percent on Friday, down for the sixth straight session, as worsening problems in Greece and Spain raised worries of contagion in the euro zone. Oil futures fell on the drumbeat from global stock markets, which erased the year's gains as investors pared holdings for safe-haven assets such as gold, on growing concerns about the euro zone debt crisis. On Wall Street, equities dipped after a messy opening-day trade for social networking darling Facebook (FB.O) failed to lift the spirits of investors. .N U.S. gasoline futures bucked the day's trend in energy markets, gaining slightly after six days of losses and climbing above its 200-day moving average after falling below that level on Thursday for the first time since February. Oil investors ...

Oil rose on Thursday after two straight days of losses, as initial U.S. jobless claims fell to a near four-year low last week, raising hopes that an improving labor market would lift demand for energy. Data from the U.S. Labor Department showing first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level since April 2008 gave U.S. prices an early boost, with further strength coming from short covering ahead of the three-day holiday weekend. In recent months, new jobless claims have fallen sharply, boosting hopes that the end of a long stretch of heavy layoffs will lead to more hiring, ultimately boosting demand for motor fuel and other energy products. In London, ICE Brent crude for May delivery settled at $123.43 per barrel, up $1.09, climbing back from the session low ...

Brent crude surged back higher and U.S. oil extended gains on Thursday as initial jobless claims data, which fell to a near four-year low last week, lifted hopes that a healing labor market would lift energy demand. The closely watched report from the U.S. Labor Department showed that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 357,000, the lowest since April 2008. By 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT), ICE Brent crude for May delivery traded in London at $123 a barrel, up 66 cents, climbing back from the session low of $121.82. U.S. May crude rose $1.27 to $102.74, after hitting a session high of $103.04. Both contracts are up after two straight days of losses. Prices were mixed earlier, with Brent crude falling as the positive report further dampened ...

Brent crude prices rose to a near three-month peak on Friday in heavy volume trading after a report showed the U.S. economy in January created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months, fueling hopes of stronger demand in the top petroleum-consuming nation. Both Brent and U.S. crude extended gains late as the euro recovered against the dollar and as oil investors covered short positions ahead of the weekend, eyeing simmering tensions between tensions with the West over Tehran's nuclear program. Oil had initially rallied ahead of the jobs report after Iran's supreme leader warned of retaliation over "threats of oil embargo and war." "The euro came back and there were shorts being covered ahead of the weekend with the situations in Iran and Greece still out there," said Stephen Schork, ...