Oil prices drop

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after recent strong gains and as the market awaited a report on the health of crude inventories in the United States -- the world's biggest energy consuming nation.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for January delivery, dropped 48 cents to 77.89 dollars a barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for January delivery shed 37 cents to 78.98 dollars a barrel.
The US government will publish later on Wednesday its latest weekly snapshot of energy inventories in the world's biggest economy.