The EIA reported a draw of -2,032 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The draw was larger than the average estimate of -1,858 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $58.73 from $58.81 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 21.50 MMBbls (-4.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 33.20 MMBbls (-7.0%) to the five-year average.
