The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated on Tuesday a larger than anticipated crude oil inventory build of 4.18 million barrels for the week ending January 31, compared to analyst expectations of a 2.8-million-barrel build in inventory. Last week saw a surprise draw in crude oil inventories of 4.27 million barrels , according to API data. The EIA’s estimates, however, were for a build of 3.5-million barrels for that week. Oil prices were down in the afternoon hours, after trending upward earlier in the day on news that OPEC was in talks about what action to take in response to the effects of the coronavirus that have disrupted travel within China and consequently, oil demand. At 3:39 pm EST on Tuesday the WTI benchmark was trading down $0.23 (-0.46%) at $49.88—more than $3 down compared to last week’s levels. The price of a Brent barrel was also trading down on […]