RTRS: U.S. crude down $2 on strong dollar, weak equities
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures lost further ground Wednesday morning, falling more than $2 as the dollar strengthened and Wall Street fell sharply on worries about domestic bank earnings and news of bank lending restrictions in China.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT), crude for February delivery, which is expiring on Wednesday, was down $2.02, or 2.56 percent, at $77.00 a barrel, its session low. It traded as high as $79.03 earlier. (Reporting by Gene Ramos; Editing by John Picinich)
