U.S. Crude Oil Stockpiles Rise Unexpectedly in Week - EIA

U.S. crude stocks rose unexpectedly last week, while gasoline stocks decreased and distillate inventories grew, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Crude inventories rose by 6.8 million barrels in the last week, compared with analysts' expectations for an decrease of 2.5 million barrels.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 1.64 million barrels, EIA said.

Refinery crude runs rose by 383,000 barrels per day, EIA data showed. Refinery utilization rates rose by 1.5 percentage points.

Gasoline stocks fell by 740,000 barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 583,000 barrels drop.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 3.6 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1-million barrel increase, the EIA data showed.

Net U.S. crude imports rose last week by 1.34 million barrels per day.