Oil rally eases back

NEW YORK, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices topped $93 per barrel Tuesday in New York, then eased back to $92.54 amidst mixed economic signals.

U.S. home prices September remained stable, but down about 3.5 percent from a year earlier.

The Richmond Federal Reserve said Central Atlantic manufacturing remained in contraction in October.

Improved confidence in Europe, where eurozone leaders are hashing out plans to restructure Greek debt, and a better-than-expected manufacturing report from China had prices moving higher. But European financial leaders canceled a meeting Tuesday, indicating a major policy announcement would not be announced after Wednesday's European summit.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate oil eased back 63 cents from its high point during the day to reach $92.54. Home heating oil lost 0.48 cents to $3.0464 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline gave up 0.47 cents to $2.67 per gallon.

Henry Hub natural gas gained 0.6 cents to $3.664 per million British thermal units with traders keeping an eye on Hurricane Rina, which is still in the deep Caribbean, on the chance it might turn north and trigger increased demand.

At the pump, the national average price of unleaded gasoline fell to $3.446 per gallon Tuesday from Monday's $3.451, AAA said.