Oil prices rebounded strongly today after two days of declines, swept up by a surge across commodities markets as traders viewed the recent sharp selling binge as overdone.
Weekly data from the US Energy Information Administration also stoked buying in crude and product futures.
US crude inventories were little changed last week from the week before, falling 15,000 barrels.
The EIA report showed refinery activity rose 1.5 percentage points and imports fell by 394,000 barrels per day.
Crude oil stored at the key Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery point for US-traded oil fell 1.6m barrels.
Gasoline inventories edged up by just 119,000 barrels, far short of the forecast for an 800,000 barrel rise.
US crude for June delivery rose $3.96 to $100.87 a barrel by 6.05pm.
The day's buying has pushed US crude above the 100-day average of $98.50.
In London, ICE Brent for July delivery gained $2.94 at $112.93.
