SINGAPORE, June 24 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell in early

Asian trade on Monday for a second straight session, weighed

down by a stronger dollar after concerns of higher-for-longer

interest rates resurfaced and cooled investors' risk appetite.

Brent crude futures slid 40 cents, or 0.5%, to

$84.84 a barrel by 0036 GMT, after settling down 0.6% on Friday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $80.34

a barrel, down 39 cents, or 0.5%.

"The U.S. dollar has opened bid this morning and appears to

have broken higher following better U.S. PMI data on Friday

night and political concerns ahead of the French election," said

Tony Sycamore, a Sydney-based markets analyst at IG.

A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated commodities

less attractive for holders of other currencies.

However, both benchmark crude contracts gained about 3% last

week on signs of stronger oil products demand in the U.S.,

world's largest consumer, and as OPEC+ cuts kept supply in

check.

U.S. crude inventories fell while gasoline demand rose for

the seventh straight week and jet fuel consumption has returned

to 2019 levels, ANZ analysts said in a note.

Geopolitical risks in the Middle East from the Gaza crisis

and a ramp-up in Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries

are also underpinning oil prices.

In Ecuador, state oil company Petroecuador has declared

force majeure over deliveries of Napo heavy crude for exports

following the shutdown of a key pipeline and oil wells due to

heavy rains, sources said on Friday.

In the U.S., operating oil rigs fell three to 485 last week,

their lowest since January 2022, Baker Hughes ( BKR ) said in

its report on Friday.