Oil prices in Asia were lower in quiet Christmas eve trade today with traders discouraged by a political stalemate in the US over a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February shed 16 cents to 88.50 dollar and Brent North Sea crude for February delivery fell eight cents to 108.89 dollar. Analysts said political bickering over a deal to avert the fiscal cliff weighed on markets in a relatively quiet session before the Christmas holiday.