Oil prices down 2 percent

US inventories of distillates, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 4.6 million barrels in the week to Sept. 9, the US Energy Information Administration reported. Analysts had expected an increase of 1.5 million barrels. It was the biggest weekly build since January, putting distillates at six-year seasonal highs.

The EIA also reported that crude inventories fell 559,000 barrels during the latest week. Analysts had expected a build of 3.8 million barrels.

Gasoline stockpiles also rose more than expected, gaining by 567,000 barrels versus a forecast build of 343,000.

"A build to gasoline stocks amid lower runs and lower product supplies counters the bullish theme, as does a strong build to distillates," said Matthew Smith, analyst at New York-based crude cargo tracker Clipperdata.

Brent crude futures were down 90 cents, or 1.9 percent, at $46.20 per barrel by 11:54 a.m. EDT (1554 GMT).

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures slid 95 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $43.95.

Both Brent and WTI rose briefly after the EIA reported the latest crude drawdown, which followed the previous week's surprise decline of 14.5 million barrels. That earlier draw, the most for a week since 1999, was due to Tropical Storm Hermine delaying oil arrivals into the US Gulf Coast for several days.

"So, the million-dollar question is really a 14.5 million barrel question ... as in where did all those barrels go to? The market was expecting some sort of a 'make up call' after last week's storm affected mega-draw," said David Thompson, executive vice president at commodities-focused broker Powerhouse in Washington.

Кроме того, негативно участники торгов восприняли сообщение о том, что запасы бензина в США выросли на 0,6 миллиона баррелей, или на 0,2% — до 228,4 миллиона баррелей. Аналитики ожидали роста показателя лишь на 0,343 миллиона баррелей. Запасы дистиллятов увеличились на 4,6 миллиона баррелей, или на 2,9%, — до 162,8 миллиона баррелей. Аналитики прогнозировали, что этот показатель вырастет на 1,543 миллиона баррелей.