Crude oil for February delivery was down 0.26% or 0.19 to $73.77 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March fell 0.27% or 0.21 to hit $76.30 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.40% or 10.59 to trade at $2,644.11 a troy ounce.
Japan stocks lower at close of trade; Nikkei 225 down 1.65%
