Oil prices slipped towards $107 a barrel on Friday as investors fled risky, growth-sensitive assets on fears that Greece would leave the euro, although short-covering provided some support for Brent.
Brent crude was down 16 cents to $107.33 a barrel by 1348 GMT after slipping to its lowest level for the year at $106.40 earlier in the session. U.S. crude was down 67 cents to $92.89.
Traders and analysts said short-covering was providing a floor for Brent futures, but the overall trend remains to the downside given the uncertainty over what will happen with Greece.
A downgrade by Moody's of the credit ratings of 16 Spanish banks has added to the contagion gloom.
"The driving factor is still what is going on in Europe with the downgrades of the Spanish banks and very negative sentiment towards risk investments," said Eugen Weinberg, an analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.
Although the bank downgrades and Greece's failure to find a consensus in the first election round were anticipated, Weinberg said the potential fall-out had not been fully priced in.
"Once it happens, the market understands how serious things are. The risks are not yet completely reflected in the price."
The lack of a Greek government is raising fears about a disorderly exit from the euro as without a government it cannot implement austerity measures in exchange for rescue funds.
The EU's trade commissioner said officials are now working on contingency plans for an exit.
Michael Poulsen, an oil analyst at Global Risk Management put the cost of such an exit at 5 percent of eurozone GDP, or about $1 trillion.
Analysts were not optimistic about the prospects for recovery in the event of a Greek exit. Michael McCarthy, a markets strategist at CMC Global Markets in Sydney, said further credit downgrades would weigh on demand projections and argued there was potential for "structural destruction".
"It's the fear factor that's driving Brent," agreed Guy Wolf, macro strategist at Marex Spectron in London. "Finally Europe has reached the key Greece in/Greece out moment."
If Greece leaves, this could trigger bank runs in Italy and Spain, he added, seeing the possibility of a major impact on growth.
Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said the contagion effect, whereby other countries have to leave as well, could trigger a contraction of 10 percent in GDP and a 2 million barrel-per-day fall in OECD European oil demand.
They see Brent prices falling as low as $60 a barrel in the event of a broader eurozone break-up, but if the impact is contained, Brent is seen slipping to $80 a barrel.
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