New York (Platts)--14Sep2009/918 am EDT/1318 GMT

NYMEX October crude futures on CME's Globex system were 68 cents lower at $68.61/barrel Monday as the dollar finally firmed after a six-day selloff that sent the greenback to year-to-date lows against most major currencies.

October ICE Brent was 21 cents lower at $67.47/b.

"Talk of rising trade tensions after President Obama announced tariffs on Chinese imports may have acted as a catalyst but the move is unlikely to lead to a trade war," foreign exchange strategists at Brown Brothers Harriman said in a report. "Talk of a trade war between the US and China is exaggerated." Brown Brothers' analysts cautioned.

Additionally, S&P 500 futures were down 7.50 points at 1,029.8 with trade tensions between China and the US as the catalyst for profit-taking after last week's run-up. --Linda Rafield, linda_rafield@platts.com