Oil prices mixed in Asian trade

Crude prices were mixed in Asian trade Wednesday as traders reacted to a forecast that global oil demand is set to grow amid hopes for a Greek debt deal, analysts said.New Yorks main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude for delivery in March, gained 49 cents to $98.90 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for March delivery was down 19 cents to $116.04 in the afternoon.Crude prices have made gains with the EIA forecast of a growth in oil consumption and hopes of a solution to Greek debt trouble, said Nick Trevethan, senior commodities strategist at ANZ Research.However Brent crude was capped at the $116.50 range as traders took profits from gains earlier in the week, he told AFP.In a report released Tuesday, the United States Energy Information Administration forecast that worldwide fuel demand is set to accelerate over the next two years.EIA expects world markets to continue to gradually tighten in 2012 and 2013, as increases in global consumption outpace production growth, the report said.Meanwhile, Greek officials are looking to wrap up weeks of negotiations with creditors on slashing its massive debt as it moves to avoid a default.