NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures extended their gains Wednesday after government data showed a surprise decline in U.S. crude inventories. Inventories fell by 700,000 barrels in the week ended Feb. 27, the Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts surveyed by Platts had expected an increase of 2.2 million barrels. After the data, April crude was up 7.2% to $44.72 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It had risen less than 7% before the data. The EIA also reported gasoline inventories rose by 200,000 barrels, and distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose 1.7 million barrels.
