LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices rose Friday, reversing earlier losses as bargain hunters snapped up crude in thin trading ahead of the weekend and amid public holidays in much of Europe. Traders meanwhile tracked the outlook for energy demand and the latest developments on the deadly swine flu outbreak. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in June added 83 cents to 51.63 dollars a barrel in London afternoon trade. New Yorks main contract, light sweet crude for June, gained 99 cents to 52.11 dollars per barrel. Both contracts had traded in negative territory for much of Friday, in line with retreating equities, before bargain hunting kicked in. Its low volume due to many institutions taking a long weekend for May 1, said PetroMatrix analyst Olivier Jakob. In late afternoon deals, Londons FTSE 100 index of leading shares fell 0.62 percent ahead of a three-day holiday weekend, while Frankfurt and Paris were shut on Friday. Wall Street stocks dipped Friday as investors digested better-than-expected profit reports and awaited data on manufacturing, and sales in the ailing auto sector. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.33 percent to 8,141.20 in early trades, extending a modest loss on Thursday. This week, the oil market was rattled by concerns that the deadly swine flu outbreak could hinder a global economic recovery and further weaken demand for crude. But traders also digested economic data this week which raised slender hopes of an end to the global economic downturn. However, world oil prices have slumped since striking record highs above 147 dollars per barrel in July 2008, as energy demand has tumbled in the downturn. Some analysts warn the swine flu outbreak will further weaken demand for air travel and oil. Jet fuel, or kerosene, is refined from crude. Despite swine flu hysteria sweeping the globe, concerns of a pandemic have so far only marginally affected oil prices, cautioned analysts at the JBC Energy consultancy in Vienna. The only product for which deterioration has been observable is jet fuel, they added. Mexico said the swine flu epidemic was not as aggressive as originally feared as it began a five-day shutdown Friday to halt its spread and more countries confirmed cases on their soil. As nations stepped up safety measures after a World Health Organization (WHO) warning that a global pandemic may be imminent, Mexicos government raised its confirmed toll to 15 dead and 328 people infected.