The EIA reported a build of +2,951 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -1,109 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $72.69 from $72.92 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a surplus of 39.60 MMBbls (9.4%) to last year, and a deficit of 5.70 MMBbls (-1.2%) to the five-year average.
