A surprise EIA build of 1.1 million barrels pressured CL futures by 0.4%. Traders are evaluating whether this deviation from the prior drawdown trend signals a short-term correction or simply a data anomaly. That would come even as U.S. and Asian demand starts to decline. Released on Wednesdays, EIA reports track US crude inventories levels stored for future use. CL futures closed 0.9% higher amid strong equity market rallies in energy stocks. Positive sentiment in related equities frequently supports futures pricing through correlation in investor portfolios.
