20.09.201714:58:00UTC+00Crude Oil Firms Above $50

Crude oil prices continued to rise Wednesday despite a significant build in U.S. oil inventories.

With OPEC signaling its determination to curb supplies, oil prices have risen sharply over the past week.

Nov. WTI added 79 cents, or 1.6%, to settle at $50.69/bbl. Oct. WTI was up 93 cents, or 1.9%, to finish at $50.41/bbl on contract's expiration day.

Crude inventories rose for a third straight week, by 4.6 million barrels in the week ending Sept. 15, the Energy Information Administration said today.

"OPEC is expected to maintain its strategy of capturing market share during price downturns," the EIA says.