Oil prices closed at a small loss for the day in a choppy session. “What started the sell off was the sharp drop in the New York manufacturing numbers,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group. “This market seems a little more sensitive to every new headline,” Flynn added. “They’re still not sure we’ve found the bottom to this market.” On Thursday Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said interest rate hikes intended to curb inflation were likely at an end, but left open the possibility for further increases. The dollar fell to a four-month low on Thursday after the U.S. central bank after Powell’s comments, seeing signs lower borrowing costs are coming in 2024. The dollar index was broadly steady on Friday. WTI traded down $.15 or -.21% to close at $71.43. Brent traded down .06 or -.08% to close at $76.55