By Moming Zhou
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude-oil futures stayed higher Thursday after government data showed a bigger-than-expected drop in last week's crude inventories as imports fell. Crude inventories fell 5.9 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 4, the Energy Information Administration reported, as imports tumbled 5% to 9.1 million barrels a day. Analysts had expected an inventories drop of less than 2 million barrels. After the data, October crude gained 0.8% to $71.91 a barrel. The EIA data also showed a buildup in gasoline and distillate inventories, as demand weakened. Gasoline inventories rose 2.1 million barrels, and distillate stockpiles, which include heating oil and diesel, rose 2 million barrels.
