World oil prices drifted lower today, with sentiment dampened by fears that the euro zone debt and deficit crisis could derail the global economic recovery and dent energy demand. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, dropped 28 cents to $72.30 a barrel. London's Brent North Sea crude for July shed 12 cents to $72.59 a barrel. European stock markets sank further today, with banks suffering on fears of exposure to euro zone debt and the energy sector hit by the BP oil spill disaster. Oil prices had fallen sharply yesterday after a series of sluggish European and Chinese economic indicators also sparked concerns about energy demand. Sentiment was hit this week after the European Central Bank suggested that euro zone banks might have to reduce the value of their assets by a total of €195 billion by 2011.