Crude oil prices fell in early Asian trading as traders took profit following a 4 percent rise in the previous session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading at $46.23 per barrel at 0024 GMT (0824 EDT), down 45 cents from their last settlement. Globally traded Brent futures were at $48.51 per barrel, down 41 cents. The dip in prices came after oil rallied on Monday, with U.S crude surging more than 4 percent on signs of declining stockpiles and a fall in drilling activity, which implies lower future oil production. A Reuters poll on Monday forecast that U.S. crude inventories as a whole fell by 2.1 million barrels last week. [EIA/S] Traders also focused on the soon-to-expire front-month contract in the West Texas Intermediate (WTI), which serves […]