Crude-oil futures reduced their earlier losses Tuesday after data showed new construction of U.S. houses fell to a new record low in April. Crude for June delivery gained 26 cents, or 0.4%, to $59.29 a barrel in early North American electronic trading. It was up more than 1% earlier and had topped $60 a barrel in overnight trading. The Commerce Department estimated Tuesday housing starts plunged 12.8% in April to a seasonally adjusted 458,000 annualized units, the lowest level since the series began in 1959.
