NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 400,000 barrels during the week ended Dec. 5 to stand at 320.8 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday. Analysts polled by Platts had expected a buildup of 2.7 million barrels in crude-oil stocks for the week. After the data, January crude futures were up $1.20, or 3%, to $43.26 a barrel on Globex, giving up some of their earlier strong gains. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 3.8 million barrels last week, and distillate fuel inventories increased by 5.6 million barrels, the EIA said. The analysts polled by Platts had projected a rise of 1.4 million barrels in gasoline stocks and a decline of 1.6 million barrels in distillate stocks.
