-- Crude oil consolidates gains after bull run, analysts say -- Firmer dollar against the euro makes oil a less attractive buy -- Comments at G20 meeting about risk of global slowdown has dampening effect on prices, says an analyst -- Tension between Iran and the West provides underlying support for prices By Jenny Gross Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones)--Crude oil futures across both sides of the Atlantic fell in Monday trading after five straight sessions of gains, as investors sold to take cash amid weaker European equities. At 1051 GMT, the April Brent contract on London's ICE futures exchange was down $1.82, or 1.5%, at $123.64 a barrel. The April contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange was trading down $1.45, or 1.3%, at $108.32 a barrel. "After the very strong performance over the last few days, it isn't surprising to see some profit taking," said Eugen Weinberg, Commerzbank's head of commodity research. "The market is looking for new buyers, and if there isn't news surrounding Iran and the dollar is a bit stronger and equities weaker, on the back of this there will be profit taking." He said that should European equities recover throughout the day, oil prices would likely bounce back too. European equities traded lower after finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 expressed hesitancy to commit more international aid for European countries. In a weekend meeting in Mexico City, G20 officials warned that the global economy was still at risk of slow down and said surging oil prices threatened recovery. "News from the IMF that they are starting to get worried about higher oil prices has a dampening affect on oil prices and triggers profit taking," said Thina Saltvedt, senior oil market analyst at Nordea Bank Norge. At 1053 GMT, the euro weakened to $1.3400 from $1.3448 late Friday in New York. A firmer dollar against the euro was bearish for oil prices, as it made purchasing oil more expensive for holders of currencies other than the greenback. Although prices came off slightly, analysts said the outlook is still bullish, with tension in the Middle East, including Iran and Syria, and halted oil production from South Sudan, feeding into fears about supply. More prices increases lie ahead, Ritterbusch & Associates said in a note. "The beat goes on as far as this exceptionally strong oil price rally is concerned, as the market is still showing negligible indication of an impending price top," it said. Even if the U.S. and IEA consider another strategic stock release to cool prices, in the long term the threat of supply disruption is likely to remain. PVM's Tamas Varga said in a note that "as long as it does so, oil prices are unlikely to move down much." At 1053 GMT, the ICE's gasoil contract for March delivery was down $5.75, or 0.6%, at $1,025.00 a metric ton, while Nymex gasoline for March delivery was down 289 points, or 0.9%, at $3.1239 a gallon. -By Jenny Gross, Dow Jones Newswires; 4420-7842-9239; jenny.gross@dowjones.com

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