U.S. crude down $2 as Feb crude heads to expiry

NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices extended losses to more than $2 on Thursday as the U.S. dollar bounced on news that first-time jobless claims were less than expected last week in the United States.

Investors also said profit-taking was helping push prices lower as prices were unable to push above the 27-month peak of $92.58 struck on Jan. 3.

Oil prices had already been pressured ahead of the jobless claims report by late-Wednesday industry data showing rising U.S. oil stockpiles and by concerns about China's inflation.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, expiring February crude <CLG1> fell $1.96, or 2.16 percent, to $89.90 a barrel at 9:18 a.m. EST (1418 GMT), trading from $88.68 to $90.86.

NYMEX March crude <CLH1> fell $1.90 to $89.91 a barrel, trading from $89.60 to $91.80. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)