Crude futures settle lower

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices fell on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery lost 67 cents, or 0.95 percent, to settle at 69.91 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for February delivery dropped 51 cents, or 0.69 percent, to settle at 72.88 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.