Crude oil prices lower on day, week

Crude oil prices were down Friday.  Brent crude July contracts on the International Petroleum Exchange saw a decline of 95 cents to $68.72 per barrel late in the day after having seen gains earlier.  It was down 5 per cent on the week, and it was the first time in five weeks that it has closed before $70 per barrel.  Meanwhile, June contracts of West Texas Intermediate crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange had dropped 85 cents by early afternoon to $68.60 per barrel, around 9 percent lower than the record high it reached three weeks ago.  The declines have come after increases in inventories in the United States.