Crude oil prices edged up in early Asian trading on Thursday after the U.S. Energy Department reported a ninth consecutive weekly drawdown of crude stocks but a surprise build in gasoline supplies. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery, the new front month contract from Thursday, was up 2 cents at $45.77 a barrel at 9.02 p.m. ET. The August contract expired on Wednesday after rising 29 cents, or 0.7 percent, to settle at $44.94 a barrel. Brent crude’s front-month contract, LCOc1 was up 5 cents at $47.22 a barrel. The contract, also for September delivery, rose 51 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $47.17 a barrel the previous day. “Many market participants had expected far larger crude stockdraws during peak runs season in the United States. Clearly these expectations have not been met,” […]