Crude oil for January delivery was down 1.15% or 0.82 to $70.47 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in February fell 0.42% or 0.31 to hit $74.18 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.20% or 5.36 to trade at $2,670.44 a troy ounce.
Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 0.07%
