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

HOUSTON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Wednesday reported an increase of 1.26 million barrels in the U.S. crude oil inventories for the week ending Feb. 15.

In the previous week ending Feb. 8, API reported a drop of 0.998 million barrels, the first fall in a four-week period.

U.S. oil prices rose on Wednesday. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March delivery climbed 0.83 U.S. dollar to settle at 56.92 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.