U.S. data showing the surplus on the five-year average in crude oil stocks at just 9 percent helped drive oil prices higher on the last trading day of 2017. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed crude oil stockpiles dropped 4.6 million barrels for the week ending Dec. 22. The American Petroleum Institute estimated a drop of 6 million barrels, while analysts surveyed by commodity pricing group S&P Global Platts were looking for a drain of about 3.5 million barrels. The variance led to some volatility in […]