Oil prices moved down Friday, as a stronger U.S. dollar dented investor sentiment, which made the dollar-denominated oil less attractive for holders of other currencies.
Following the release of a robust July nonfarm jobs report, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major peers, jumped 0.46 percent at 96.196 in late trading on Friday. U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 255,000 in July, well above economists' estimates of 180,000, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday.
Meanwhile, the number of rigs operating in U.S. oil fields rose for a sixth straight week, increasing by 7 rigs to a total of 381, according to oilfield services company Baker Hughes Friday.
The West Texas Intermediate for September delivery fell 13 cents to settle at 41.80 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for October delivery lost 2 cents to close at 44.27 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
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