The EIA reported a draw of -5,068 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The draw was larger than the average estimate of -1,117 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $115.37 from $115.30 just before 10:00 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 65.30 MMBbls (-13.6%) to last year, and a deficit of 72.90 MMBbls (-14.9%) to the five-year average.
