Oil prices ease in Asia

SINGAPORE: Crude prices fell in Asian trade Tuesday after a key petroleum shipping channel in the United States was closed following a collision that resulted in an oil spill.

Investors were also waiting for the release Wednesday of weekly crude oil stockpiles in the United States to gauge demand in the world´s biggest oil consuming nation, analysts said.

New York´s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for May delivery eased 24 cents to $99.36 a barrel in mid-morning trade, and Brent North Sea crude for May dipped 30 cents to $106.51.