WTI & Brent trade ~$0.20 & ~$0.30 higher........>

OIL: WTI & Brent trade ~$0.20 & ~$0.30 higher respectively at writing, as global

stocks edge higher. This comes after Wednesday's EIA inventory report indicated

a far smaller than exp. decline in headline U.S. crude inventories (conflicting

with this week's API inventory report). The DoE report also revealed a surprise

draw in distillate stocks, with gasoline stocks showing a slightly higher than

expected build. Stocks at Cushing rose for a third consecutive week. The report

pressured crude, as worries that that OPEC+ supply cut plans may be insufficient

to tackle glut issues persisted. Comments from Iran re: OPEC infighting at last

week's meeting briefly sent WTI below $51/barrel late Wednesday, with U.S.

equities pulling back from highs, adding further weight.

- OPEC's monthly crude report, released Wednesday, indicated that the cartel's

November crude output fell by 11K b/d to an average of 32.97mn b/d, as lower

production in Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria & Iraq offset higher production in Saudi

Arabia, UAE & Kuwait. The cartel left its global oil demand growth forecasts

unchanged, as it pushed its 2018 non-OPEC oil supply estimate higher, but

trimmed its 2019 estimate for the same measure.