The EIA reported a draw of -1,863 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. This draw was smaller than the average estimate of 2,811 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $117.84 from $118.44 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 84.90 MMBbls (-17.1%) to last year, and a deficit of 58.80 MMBbls (-12.5%) to the five-year average.
