Oil price slides as dollar gets a bump

NEW YORK - Oil prices fell sharply yesterday, dropping below $124 a barrel as demand concerns grew and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke indicated that more interest-rate cuts are unlikely.

Bernanke's comments sent the dollar higher and raised questions about oil's ability to reach new highs in the short term.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery fell $3.45 to settle at $124.31 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices dipped as low as $123.87 in after-hours electronic trading. It was oil's lowest trading and settlement levels since May 15. *

-Associated Press