API data shows big fall in crude-oil supplies

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch)
Crude-oil supplies fell by 5.6 million barrels for the week ended Nov. 18, the American Petroleum Institute reported late Tuesday.
Gasoline inventories rose by 5.4 million barrels while distillate inventories declined by 886,000 barrels, the trade group said.
Analysts polled by Platts expected crude stocks to be unchanged for the week.
They also forecast an increase of 1.15 million barrels for gasoline inventories and a decline of 1.5 million in distillate stocks.
The API's figures come ahead of Wednesday's more closely-watched Energy Information Administration report.