The
U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday that crude
inventories decreased by 0.910 million barrels in the week ended November 26,
following a build of 1.017 million barrels in the previous week. Economists had
forecast a draw of 1.237 million barrels.
At
the same time, gasoline stocks climbed by 4.029 million barrels, while analysts
had projected a gain of 0.029 million barrels. Elsewhere, distillate stocks jumped
by 2.160 million barrels, while analysts had expected an advance of 0.462 million
barrels.
Meanwhile,
oil production in the U.S. increased 100,000 barrels a day to 11.600 million
barrels a day.
U.S.
crude oil imports averaged 6.6 million barrels per day last week, up by 168,000
barrels per day from the prior week.