Lower US crude inventory sent mixed signals on crude oil prices

Crude oil prices  were mixed in Thursday’s trading after the latest data showed crude oil inventories fell in the U.S. over the past week. The global benchmark saw a gain while the U.S. standard slumped.

It followed a fall Wednesday to their lowest level since Oct. 2. U.S. crude inventories dropped 2.2 million barrels to 420.6 million in the week ended Oct. 11, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

West Texas Intermediate crude fell 28 cents or 0.4% to close at $70.67 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent crude, the global standard, closed up 23 cents or 0.31% at $74.45 a barrel.

Thursday was another day of positive trading for most Oklahoma energy stocks as 3% gains were recorded by Empire Petroleum Co., Mach Natural Resources, and Vital Energy.