Oil prices were mixed in tepid Asian trade Friday as traders locked in profits ahead of the release of US data expected to show rising unemployment in the world's largest economy, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in September, gained 16 cents to 82.17 dollars a barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for September delivery shed three cents to 81.58 dollars.

Traders were consolidating their positions before the release of a key US non-farm payrolls report to be released later Friday, said Ong Yi Ling, an investment analyst with Phillip Capital in Singapore.