U.S. crude oil stocks rise 3.7 mln bbls-AP

U.S. crude stocks rose unexpectedly last week while gasoline inventories increased and distillate stocks drew, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday.Crude inventories rose by 3.7 million barrels in the week to August 9 to 443 million, compared with analysts’ expectations for a decrease of 2.8 million barrels. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub fell by 2.2 million barrels, API said.

Refinery crude runs fell by 173,000 barrels per day, API data showed.

Gasoline stocks rose by 3.7 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 910,000-barrel gain.

Distillate fuels stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 1.3 million barrels, compared with expectations for an 810,000-barrel drop, the data showed.

U.S. crude imports rose last week by 640,000 barrels per day to 7.7 million bpd.