The EIA reported a build of +4,467 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -797 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $93.36 from $93.80 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 12.20 MMBbls (-2.8%) to last year, and a deficit of 30.90 MMBbls (-6.8%) to the five-year average.
