NEW YORK, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices fell on Thursday.

       The West Texas Intermediate for February delivery lost 2.34 U.S. dollars, or 3.16 percent, to settle at 71.77 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for February delivery dropped 1.26 dollars, or 1.58 percent, to settle at 78.39 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.