Global oil prices rose supported by the greater-than-expected fall in US crude stocks on Thursday.
International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $74.65 per barrel at 0630 GMT for a 1.04% rise after closing the previous session at $73.88 a barrel.
American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $71.72 per barrel at the same time for a 1.19% gain after trade ended at $70.87 a barrel in the previous session.
US commercial crude oil stocks totaled 428.3 million barrels in the week to Dec. 10, with a 1.1% drop equating to 4.6 million barrels from the previous week against the market expectation of a 2.6 million-barrel fall.
Gasoline stocks in the US decreased by 0.3%, or 700,000 barrels, to 218.6 million barrels last week.
Despite an increase in Covid-19 cases, the drop in US crude and gasoline inventories indicates strong demand in the country.
By Zeynep Beyza Kilic
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr