Oil prices were lower today, trading down for a second straight session with thin liquidity. Oil inventories rose last week unexpectedly on rising imports and falling exports. However, the market looked at the report as generally favorable as implied demand increased resulting in large draws of refined products. “Crude is limping towards the end of the year in thin trading – uninspired by the lifting of COVID restrictions in China amid skyrocketing cases, with little to galvanize crude bulls or bears in today’s benign EIA report,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler. Oil prices pared losses later in the session as the dollar weakened. WTI traded down $1.13 or -.7% to close at $78.40. Brent traded down $1.00 or -1.2% to close at $82.26.