The EIA reported a draw of -3,644 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. The draw was larger than the average estimate of -2,600 as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were down in the five minutes following the announcement, to $66.45 from $66.50 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 26.20 MMBbls (-5.7%) to last year, and a deficit of 37.60 MMBbls (-8.0%) to the five-year average.
