NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged lower
on Monday in an abbreviated session before the Christmas
holiday, with thin trading volume the main feature as oil prices
felt pressure from concerns about the unresolved U.S. budget
ahead of looming mandated tax hikes and spending cuts.
U.S. February crude fell 5 cents, or 0.06 percent, to
settle at $88.61 a barrel, having traded from $88.20 to $88.86.
(Reporting by Robert Gibbons)