API: US crude inventories up by 1.1 million barrels

Crude oil stockpiles in the United States grew by 1.1 million barrels in the week ending December 4, surprising market expectations, private data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) reportedly showed on Tuesday. 
Meanwhile, crude reserves in Cushing, Oklahoma, declined by 1.8 million barrels over the same period.
Gasoline inventories in the country jumped by 6.4 million barrels last week, while distillate stocks went up by 2.3 million barrels.
The official figures on inventories are to be released later in the day by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for deliveries in January slid 0.42 percent to trade for 45.48 dollars per barrel, while Brent for February's settlement added 0.27 percent, selling at 48.79 dollars per barrel.