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FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - Crude futures were weighed upon by a rising US dollar and weak overall market sentiment today, yet was able to trim losses by the end of the New York session after the Fed announced measures to bolster the economy. By closing bell, the most active crude contract for September delivery lost 1.5% on the day finishing at $80.25 a barrel.

A pair of weak economic reports from China and the US caused a jump in risk aversion pressuring commodities to the downside. In particular, China's crude oil imports slowed in July while US nonfarm productivity came in below expectations, dipping to -0.9% over the second quarter.

What's more, the US dollar rose for most of the day on speculation ahead of the Fed's decision making imports more expensive for non-dollar denominated nations. It was not until the Fed announced it would buy government debt and maintain interest rates at historical low 0.25% for an extended period of time that the US dollar headed to the downside, buoying crude futures.

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