U.S. crude stocks fell unexpectedly last week, while gasoline stocks increased and distillate inventories fell, data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration showed.
The data surprise spurred crude futures for both U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Global Brent to rise to a session high. U.S. crude extended gains, spiking to $37.58 U.S. and Brent rose to $37.33 U.S. a barrel.
Crude inventories fell by 5.9 million barrels in the last week, compared with analysts' expectations for an increase of 1.1 million barrels.
The EIA also said crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by two million barrels.
Gasoline stocks rose by 1.1 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.4-million-barrel gain.
U.S. crude imports fell last week by 1.041 million barrels per day.
