Crude futures settle lower

NEW YORK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices inched down on Tuesday.

The West Texas Intermediate for May delivery lost 33 cents, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 81.62 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for May delivery decreased by 50 cents, or 0.58 percent, to settle at 86.25 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.