US crude stocks climbed for a third consecutive week last week as production ticked higher and exports slowed, US Energy Information Administration data showed Wednesday. Commercial crude inventories increased 7.46 million barrels to 442.47 million barrels during the week ended February 7, EIA said. Crude stocks gained ground against the five-year average for the first time in five weeks, but inventories were still 1.5% behind the average last week. Stocks had steadily declined relative to historic levels since late December, when they were 0.6% above average, to 2.3% below average during the week ended January 31. The latest build was concentrated on the US Gulf Coast, where stocks increased 2.74 million […]