By Claudia Assis
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures added to gains Thursday as a government report showed a larger-than-expected decrease in the nation's oil inventories. Crude for July delivery, nearly flatlined earlier, climbed 77 cents, or 1.1%, to $73.69 a barrel. The Energy Information Administration reported a decline of 1.9 million barrels in the week ended May 28, whereas analysts polled by Platts had expected crude stockpiles to decline 1 million barrels. Total motor gasoline inventories decreased by 2.6 million barrels, the EIA said. Distillates stockpiles increased by 500,000 barrels. Gasoline stocks were expected to increase 750,000 barrels, according to the analysts surveyed, while distillates stocks were seen to increase by 950,000 barrels.
