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Singapore - Oil prices resumed their slide in Asian trade on Friday following a sharp rebound the day before as investors wait for more signs of economic growth in Europe, analysts said.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery was down 69 cents to $81.40 a barrel in late-morning trade and Brent crude for December dropped 62c to $86.21.
Both contracts rebounded sharply on Thursday, buoyed by better-than-expected economic data from China and European powerhouse Germany.
British banking giant HSBC's preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China showed a slight uptick, to 50.4 in October from 50.2 in September, easing concerns about slowing economic growth in the world's largest energy consumer.
Markit's PMI for Germany rose to 54.3 in October from 54.1 in September, with manufacturing rising at the fastest pace in three months but still well below the levels seen at the start of the year.
For the 18-member eurozone, Markit said its Composite Purchasing Managers Output Index rose marginally to 52.2 points in October from a 10-month low of 52.0 points in September.
While the German and eurozone PMI are encouraging, analysts said they would wait for data in the next few months to make firm conclusions on its growth path.
"So far, it seems quite good but we still need to look at the the next few releases," Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, told AFP.
WTI has fallen two-year lows and Brent to its lowest levels in four years, pressured by a crude oversupply and weak demand from slowing world economies.
Other analysts said investors were also closely watching the impact of the Ebola virus health risk on global economies.
"Fresh concern over Ebola is really the last thing we like to see right now, which may have an overhang effect on oil demand," said Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore.
A doctor who recently returned to New York after treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive on Thursday for the deadly virus, the first confirmed case in the city, officials said.
