Crude futures settled higher Dec. 16 on the heels of a larger-than-expected US crude inventory draw. Not registered? NYMEX January WTI settled 20 cents higher at $47.82/b and ICE February Brent climbed 35 cents to settle at $51.11/b. US commercial crude stocks fell 3.14 million barrels to 500.1 million barrels during the week ended Dec. 11, US Energy Information Administration data showed Dec. 16. The draw left stockpiles around 10.3% above the five-year average, in slightly from 10.7% above average during the week prior. Front-month Brent and WTI last settled higher on March 4 and Feb. 26, respectively. Oil futures were trending lower ahead of the data release on expectations […]