Crude was mixed in Asian trade today after prices hit two-year highs in overnight trade, analysts said.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December delivery, dropped 52 cents to $86.54 a barrel while Brent North Sea crude for December delivery rose 11 cents to $88.22.
Some investors chose to take profits after the New York contract rose to $87.49 in intraday trade yesterday, its highest level since late 2008, analysts said.
"I think after the huge rise in prices to two-year peaks, some are taking profits," said Ong Yi Ling, an investment analyst with Phillip Capital in Singapore.
A stronger greenback was also a factor as it makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for investors holding other currencies and tends to weaken their risk appetite for commodities including crude futures.
In early Asian trade, the euro fell to $1.3869 from $1.3917 in US trade yesterday.
Oil prices have been boosted in recent days by the US Federal Reserve's decision to inject an additional $600 billion into the market to help stimulate the world's biggest economy.