NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell sharply Friday as the dollar rose against the euro and the basket of currencies, and the Chinese central bank's move to raise commercial banks' reserve requirements raised concerns the move may curb economic growth. "The petroleum markets have been hit by overseas developments, including a further move by the Chinese government to curb credit to cool growth," said Tim Evans, analyst at Citi Futures Perspective in New York. The euro plunged to a nearly nine-month low against the dollar after a rescue deal for debt-stricken Greece left many details unanswered, while China's surprise monetary tightening hit higher-yielding currencies. The Chinese central bank's move to raise commercial banks' reserve requirements raised concerns the move may curb economic growth. [ID:nTOE61B069] The dollar rose against the currency basket. [.DXY] The U.S. Energy Information Administration delayed its oil inventory and natural gas storage reports to Friday. The EIA natural gas storage report will arrive at 10;30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) and the oil report release is set for 11 EST. A Reuters survey of analysts yielded a forecast for crude inventories to be up 1.5 million barrels last week, distillate stocks down 1.9 million barrels and gasoline supplies up 500,000 barrels. [EIA/S] The American Petroleum Institute's report on Tuesday showed crude supplies rose much more than expected. [API/S] PRICES * On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 10:08 a.m. EST, March crude CLH0 was down $1.62, or 2.15 percent, at $73.66 a barrel, trading from $73.09 to $75.35. * In London, front-month April Brent crude LCOJ0 fell $1.70, or 2.29 percent, to $72.42 a barrel, trading from $72.12 to $74. * NYMEX March RBOB RBH0 fell 4.23 cents, or 2.19 percent, to $1.8934 a gallon, trading from $1.8866 to $1.9380. * NYMEX March heating oil HOH0 fell 4.22 cents, or 2.15 percent, to $1.9208 a gallon, trading from $1.8866 to $1.9380. * The March/March heating oil crack spread <0#CL-HO=R> was at $7.35, after ending at $7.17 on Thursday. The March/March RBOB crack spread <0#RB-CL=R> was at $6.17, after ending at $6.02 on Thursday. * The spread between the current front month and the five-year forward crude contract CLc61 was at $14.06, based on the March 2015 contract Thursday settlement at $87.72. The spread ended Thursday at $12.44. TECHNICALS NYMEX crude 10-day/20-day moving average: $75.00/$77.00 Technical support/resistance: NYMEX crude: $73.75/$75.80 NYMEX heating oil: $1.96/$2.00 NYMEX RBOB: $1.93/$1.9995 For a full report on technicals, click on [ID:nLDE61B1JW] MARKET NEWS * U.S. retail sales rose more than expected in January. The Commerce Department said total retail sales increased 0.5 percent. December and November results were both revised to show stronger spending. [ID:nN12156724] * U.S. consumer sentiment slipped in early February, the Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said. [ID:nN12179486] * For a list of U.S. refinery issues, click on [REF/US] (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)

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