Oil down slightly, natural gas continues to drop

Natural gas prices fell again following a report showing production is at record levels and mild early winter weather.

Benchmark oil fell 4 cents to finish at $93.15 a barrel in New York. The price was close to $94 a barrel earlier, but then followed the stock market lower. Alcoa posts fourth-quarter results after the markets close, the first of the major companies to announce earnings. Investors are concerned that many will have weak showings in the coming weeks, reflecting the economy's sluggish recovery.

Natural gas fell 5 cents to end at $3.22 per 1,000 cubic feet, continuing a decline that started Monday when the Energy Department reported that natural gas production rose to a record 73.54 trillion cubic feet a day in October. In addition some analysts lowered their estimates for natural gas prices because of the mild weather that much of the country experienced in November and December.