The EIA reported a build of +6,165 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a draw of -223 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $71.21 from $71.30 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 10.70 MMBbls (-2.4%) to last year, and a deficit of 20.80 MMBbls (-4.5%) to the five-year average.
