Crude oil inventories in the US felll by 0.961 million barrels in the week ending October 17, defying market expectations of a 1.2-million build. At the Cushing, Oklahoma delivery hub, crude stocks fell by 770,000 barrels. Among refined fuels, gasoline stocks dropped by 2.147 million barrels and stocks of distillate fuels dropped by 1.479 million barrels.