Crude futures settle lower

NEW YORK, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices dipped on Thursday.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery lost 24 cents, or 0.35 percent, to settle at 68.3 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for February delivery decreased 22 cents, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 72.09 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.