World oil prices sank today, shaken by the Greek crisis and the strengthening US currency.
London's Brent North Sea crude for June fell 48 cents to $85.30 a barrel. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for June, also slid 48 cents to $81.96.
Crude futures had plunged lower yesterday on heightened concerns about a Greek financial crisis after its debt was slashed to junk status, fanning fears of a default.
A fierce global equities sell-off began yesterday after ratings agency Standard & Poor's cut Greek debt to junk, while a downgrade to Portugal also stoked concerns about a widening euro zone crisis.
Oil investors are also looking to the results of a US Federal Reserve board meeting on whether or not to raise its main interest rate, as well as the weekly energy inventories report by the US Department of Energy.
The report, to be released later this afternoon, is closely watched because it gives an indication of demand in the US, the world's biggest economy and the largest energy consuming nation.
