Oil prices slid Friday as traders took profits following a three-day surge.

Light, sweet crude for May delivery declined 22 cents at 63.63 dollars per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for May delivery rose 25 cents to 68.97 dollars on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Crude prices jumped last three trading days as U.S. gasoline stockpiles sank by 5.5 million barrels last week.

The International Energy Agency urged the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Thursday to increase production.

Problems in several U.S. refineries also had helped to stoke prices.

Gasoline futures slipped 1.21 cents to 2.1797 dollars per gallon on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Source: Xinhua