Oil prices jump over US$2/bbl after drawdown in US stocks

Brent crude rose US$1.86, or 2.5%, to settle at $75.46 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed $2.15, or 3.1%, to $72.61 a barrel.Earlier in the session, Brent touched $76.13 a barrel, a contract high, and the highest outright price since late July. (File pic shows US oil storage at Cushing, Oklahoma. - Reuters)

NEW YORK: Oil prices rose over US$2 a barrel on Wednesday after government data showed a larger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude inventories, and on expectations demand will rise as vaccination roll-outs widen.

U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell last week to the lowest since September 2019, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said, extending their drawdown after Hurricane Ida late August shut numerous refineries and offshore drilling production.