World oil prices were mixed today ahead of fresh US data and a crucial speech by Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke, analysts said.
Brent North Sea crude for October delivery firmed 55 cents to $110.70 a barrel in late London deals.
New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude for October, fell 14 cents to $85.02.
Traders are also on tenterhooks before tomorrow's publication of the latest estimates of second-quarter economic growth in the United States, the world's biggest consumer of oil.
Data published today showed initial US weekly jobless claims surged to 417,000 last week, dimming hopes of an imminent recovery in the jobs market.
The oil market was meanwhile underpinned by ongoing unrest in Libya with analysts saying the North African country may take longer than expected to get its crude production facilities back to normal.
Oil prices briefly shot higher yesterday after the release of data showing that US durable goods orders - a reflection of the country's manufacturing sector - rebounded in July.
Separately, official data showed that US oil inventories fell by 2.2m barrels last week, in a sign of healthier US energy demand.
The rally lost steam, however, in hesitant trade before a speech by Mr Bernanke which will be scrutinized for signs of whether he will support new stimulus measures to boost the flagging US economy.
