CRUDE FUTURES DROPPED IN ASIAN TRADING TUESDAY AMID CONCERNS ABOUT WEAKENING DEMAND, AND SOME ANALYSTS SAID THE SELL-OFF WAS TRIGGERED BY PROFIT-TAKING. LIGHT, SWEET CRUDE FOR JUNE DELIVERY FELL 26 CENTS TO US$69.15 A BARREL IN ELECTRONIC TRADING ON THE NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE. THE CONTRACT ON MONDAY FELL US$2.63 TO SETTLE AT US$69.41 A BARREL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. ON LONDON'S ICE FUTURES EXCHANGE, THE FRONT-MONTH BRENT CRUDE CONTRACT FOR JUNE, WHICH EXPIRES AT THE CLOSE OF TRADING TUESDAY, DROPPED 42 CENTS TO US$69.25 A BARREL. JULY BRENT GAVE UP 29 CENTS TO US$69.89 A BARREL. ON TUESDAY, GASOLINE FUTURES DROPPED 0.90 CENT TO US$2.045 A GALLON (3.8 LITERS) WHILE HEATING OIL PRICES LOST 0.75 CENT TO US$1.9375 A GALLON. NATURAL GAS PRICES GAINED 5.7 CENTS TO US$6.18 PER 1,000 CUBIC FEET.
