Oil continues lower in Asian trade

World oil prices continued lower in Asian trade on Thursday after an unexpectedly low rise in United States crude stocks. New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for June delivery, dropped 43 cents to 123.79 dollars per barrel. The benchmark contract had closed down 1.58 dollars at 124.22 dollars a barrel on Wednesday at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent North Sea crude for June dropped 31 cents to 121.55 dollars, after settling 2.24 dollars lower at 121.86 dollars in London on Wednesday.