LONDON, July 18: Oil prices rallied slightly on Friday after three days of heavy falls that pulled the market down by $15 on worries over economic growth and slowing demand, traders said.

New York’s main oil contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, won back $1.86 to $131.15 per barrel.

London’s Brent North Sea oil for September delivery gained $1.23 to $132.30.

Over the course of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, New York crude dived by $15 and London Brent almost $13.

“Prices were up ... which appears to be a bounce following the recent steep sell-off,” said analyst Michael Davies at the Sucden brokerage in London.

“There was some bullish news on the supply side, with a strike in Brazil being expanded to impact all production and refining units of the state run Petrobras.”—AFP