UPDATE

UPDATE FOR 21 OCTOBER

Crude oil fell for a second day after the U.S. dollar climbed

to 20-month high against the euro, reducing the appeal

of commodities as a hedge.

Investors looking for protection against the dollar's decline

earlier this year helped lead crude oil, gold, corn and gasoline

to records. Oil yesterday gave up early gains on expectations

the OPEC will reduce output at a meeting in Vienna this week,

closing lower as the dollar advanced.

Crude oil for December delivery fell 56 cents to $71.62 a barrel

on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 10:25 a.m. in Sydney.

The November contract expired yesterday, after declining

$3.36 to settle at $70.89 a barrel. Prices, which have tumbled

52 percent since reaching a record $147.27 on July 11, are

down 20 percent from a year ago.