Brent crude-oil was trading lower Friday in thin holiday trade, after making an unsuccessful run at early-December highs above $112 a barrel. Low volumes are likely to continue until after New Year, with many traders away from their desks. Brent crude for February delivery fell 18 cents to $111.80 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe, having briefly traded above $112 a barrel. U.S. crude-oil futures were down just one cent at $99.54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Strikes at Total SA (TOT) refineries in France have had a small downward effect on the price of Brent crude, but resolution to the disputes appeared to have been reached over recent days. Brent remains supported by the effects of ethnic violence in South Sudan, an east African oil producer. The effect on the country’s output is putting some upward pressure on international prices, say analysts. […]