Crude futures settle higher

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices edged up on Tuesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery gained 22 cents, or 0.32 percent, to settle at 68.59 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for February delivery increased 5 cents, or 0.07 percent, to settle at 72.19 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.