Oil fell in Asian trade on Tuesday on profit-taking after overnight gains driven by hopes for improved demand as the global economy recovers, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for November, delivery fell 41 cents to $72.86 a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for November delivery sank 22 cents to $71.14.

"Coming off recent highs, the only thing I would note is with prices getting to 73 dollars, that might have encouraged some profit-taking," said David Moore, a Sydney-based commodity strategist with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Looking ahead, the under-performing US dollar is likely to remain a big influence in driving crude prices higher, Moore said.

"I think the fragility of the US dollar has been a supporting factor," he said.

A struggling greenback tends to boost crude prices particularly because the dollar-denominated commodity becomes cheaper for foreign buyers holding stronger currencies.

The US currency had come under pressure recently from speculation that the United States would be slower to tighten monetary policy than other central banks.

Rod Smyth at Riverfront Investment Group said the Fed is still flooding the market with dollars, making it hard to increase the value of the greenback.

"As long as the Federal Reserve continues to print money, we think the dollar will weaken and risk assets around the world will benefit," he said.

"Short-term interest rates are near zero and the Fed is likely to print an additional half-trillion dollars between now and the end of 2010."

The Fed cut interest rates to virtually zero percent last December to help jolt the economy out of its worst recession in decades.

With little reprieve seen for the dollar, investors have sought to protect themselves against the greenback's fall by buying hard assets like oil and other commodities.

AFP

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