The EIA reported a draw of -2,597 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. This draw was smaller than the average estimate of -6,100 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $108.61 from $108.68 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 68.10 MMBbls (-14.1%) to last year, and a deficit of 50.50 MMBbls (-10.9%) to the five-year average.
