Crude Oil is trading today in the Asian session below the $78 level.
Crude oil futures fell on Friday morning due to a decline in China's manufacturing activity in May. The National Bureau of Statistics reported the purchasing managers' index (PMI) dropped to 49.5 from 50.4 in April, below the expected 50.5. Both new orders and foreign sales decreased during the month.
In the U.S., the EIA data showed a 4.2 million barrel decrease in commercial crude oil inventories for the week ending May 24, surpassing the expected 1.6 million barrel decline, while gasoline inventories increased.