The EIA reported a build of +1,233 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -2,300 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $73.54 from $73.62 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 3.30 MMBbls (-0.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 17.90 MMBbls (-3.8%) to the five-year average.
