* U.S. oil set for first small weekly rise in 3 weeks
* Pressure on Portugal, Spain as euro zone crisis widens
* Euro <EUR=> falls 1 percent versus dollar to two-month low
(Updates throughout, previous SINGAPORE)
By Christopher Johnson
LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S. oil prices fell towards $83
per barrel on Friday as Europe's debt crisis pushed the euro to
a two-month low against the dollar and as investors worried
about tensions in Korea and Chinese inflation.
Portugal is coming under pressure to follow Ireland's lead
and seek a European bailout, a newspaper said, due to concerns
Lisbon's debt problems could drag down Spain and trigger an even
greater currency crisis. []
The dollar index <.DXY> hit a new two-month high on Friday,
helped by the euro zone debt worries and a North Korea warning
against U.S.-South Korean military exercises. []
The situation in the Korean peninsula remained tense as
South Korea's military reported on Friday that sounds of distant
artillery fire were heard from within the North. []
The euro extended losses against the dollar on Friday,
shedding 1 percent in the day and falling to fresh two-month
lows as peripheral euro zone debt worries intensified. []
U.S. crude for January <CLc1> looked set for a small -- 1-2
percent -- weekly rise after posting the largest daily gain in
four months on Nov. 24 on positive U.S. economic data.
The contract fell 70 cents to $83.16 a barrel by 1020 GMT as
the dollar strengthened. ICE Brent futures <LCOc1> for January
were down $1.00 at $85.10.
"WEAK FUNDAMENTALS"
"The euro is down again, equity markets are nervous and oil
has been an outstanding outperformer recently," said Eugen
Weinberg, commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the oil price drops from here
over the next few days because the recent rise hasn't been based
on fundamental factors. The supply-demand situation is weak."
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For a graphic of euro zone struggles with debt, click:
http://r.reuters.com/hyb65p
For a graphic comparing euro zone peripheral economies,
click: http://r.reuters.com/zem66q
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Oil and other commodities often move inversely to the dollar
because they are priced on many international markets in the
U.S. currency. The dollar is also seen by many as a safe haven.
China may step up measures to curb accelerating inflation
following a recent crackdown on commodity prices at the world's
second largest oil consumer.
China has intervened to control fast-rising consumer prices,
raising widespread market talk of an impending interest rate
rise, reinforced by an actual increase in banks' required
reserve ratios last Friday. []
On Thursday, the country's top economic planner said that a
crackdown on commodity prices contributed to a widespread fall
in futures in the last two weeks. []
China's commodities exchanges have announced measures to
raise margin requirements and widen daily price movement limits
to curb speculation. []
Separately, India has said it will step up crude imports by
over 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the next fiscal year to
feed new refineries and fill up storage tanks. []
(Additional reporting by Florence Tan in Singapore; editing
by William Hardy)
