LONDON, Jan 31: Oil prices fell on profit-taking on Thursday, the eve of key US jobs data and after the market had won support from a Federal Reserve monetary policy announcement as well as unrest in the Middle East region.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in March dipped 10 cents to $114.80 a barrel in London midday trading. The contract had hit a three-month high at $115.25 in Asian deals.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for March, meanwhile dropped 25 cents to $97.69 a barrel after reaching a four-month peak at $98.24 on Wednesday.

“The US Fed’s confirmation of its intention to continue its ultra-loose monetary policy is likely to give further buoyancy to oil prices, especially since no end to the bond purchasing pro-gramme was discussed,” said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.—AFP