The EIA reported a build of +7,265 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -2,018 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $80.81 from $80.91 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a surplus of 1.10 MMBbls (0.2%) to last year, and a deficit of 11.60 MMBbls (-2.5%) to the five-year average.
