By Clementine Wallop Crude-oil futures fell in Asian trading Friday as investors locked in profits from a rally in the previous session and limited their activity ahead of key U.S. jobs data due later in the day. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in June traded at $93.74 a barrel at 0626 GMT, down $0.25 in the Globex electronic session. June Brent crude on London's ICE Futures exchange fell $0.30 to $102.55 a barrel. Prices were rangebound as investor attention was firmly focused on April's U.S. nonfarm payroll data, due for release at 1230 GMT, which will likely drive price direction in Asian trading early next week. A weaker-than-expected reading is usually bearish for oil prices, but it could also stoke hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain its stimulus measures, oil trading advisory company Ritterbusch & Associates' President Jim Ritterbusch said in a report. "While a disappointing figure would conjure up images of even weaker U.S. gasoline demand, we will also note that an extremely negative surprise would only force further loose Fed policy supportive of most financial and commodity spaces," he said. After a week during which crude futures were very sensitive to cues from the world's top economies as well as fundamental indicators, Mr. Ritterbusch said he expects greater volatility over the next few weeks. "We can easily envision an extremely difficult, choppy and highly volatile oil trade as this month proceeds," he said. For now, gains in U.S. stock markets and a European Central Bank interest rate cut are limiting the downside for oil futures, but fundamental concerns over high U.S. stock levels and soft demand could erode this support, according to analysts. Earlier this week, Energy Information Administration data showed U.S. crude-oil stocks are at a three-decade high, while recent manufacturing data from China and the U.S. signals slacker demand for raw materials. The spread between Brent and U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate was $8.81 a barrel compared with $8.86 a barrel Thursday. Nymex reformulated gasoline blendstock for June--the benchmark gasoline contract--fell 62 points to $2.7744 a gallon, while June heating oil traded at $2.8485, 70 points lower. ICE gasoil for May changed hands at $844.00 a metric ton, up $9.25 from Thursday's settlement. Write to Clementine Wallop at clementine.wallop@dowjones.com

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