U.S. crude and gasoline inventories were seen down last week, while distillate stockpiles likely rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. Five analysts polled by Reuters estimated on average that crude inventories decreased by around 1.9 million barrels in the week to July 8. The poll was conducted ahead of reports from the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, due at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) on Tuesday, and the EIA, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, due at 10:30 a.m. (1530 GMT) on Wednesday. Crude inventories (USOILC=ECI) rose by 8.2 million barrels in the week to July 1, compared with analysts’ expectations for a draw of 1 million barrels. read more Analysts estimated stockpiles of gasoline […]