Oil prices were mixed this evening, as traders closed out positions for the year despite an encouraging report about US housing that pointed to stronger oil demand.
US crude fell 36 cents to $93.17 a barrel. Brent crude rose five cents to $103.40 a barrel in London.
Prices wavered after a private index showed that US builders were less worried about the housing market this month. The report was a rare upbeat sign for the beleaguered industry.
Investors continued to sell their remaining investments in crude with only two, holiday-shortened weeks left in the year. Oil prices fell nearly 7% last week.
