By Claudia Assis
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures rose on Wednesday after a government report showed a smaller-than-expected increase in oil inventories and a draw in gasoline stockpiles. Crude for July delivery, the most active contract, added 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $73 a barrel. Front-month June oil rose 25 cents, or 0.4%, to $69.71 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration reported an increase of 200,000 in oil inventories, whereas analysts polled by Platts had expected an increase close to a million barrels. The EIA report showed gasoline stockpiles decreased 300,000, compared to expectations of a decrease of 450,000.
