U.S. crude oil inventories increase last week: report

HOUSTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Wednesday reported an increase of 6.55 million barrels in the U.S. crude oil inventories for the week ending Jan. 18.

In the previous week ending Jan. 11, API reported a decrease of 0.56 million barrels in the U.S. crude oil inventories.

U.S. oil prices slid on Wednesday. The West Texas Intermediate for March delivery fell 39 U.S. cents to settle at 52.57 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for March delivery slid 36 cents to close at 61.14 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.