The EIA reported a build of +3,463 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The build was larger than the average estimate of +2,026 as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $73.53 from $73.42 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 6.40 MMBbls (-1.5%) to last year, and a deficit of 24.10 MMBbls (-5.5%) to the five-year average.
