* U.S. crude oil inventories rose for the ninth week in a row, surging to their most since May 2021, as refiners ran less oil during a strong maintenance season, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed on Thursday.
* Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a law fixing the discount on Urals crude oil for tax calculations, according to a document posted on the Russian government's website. PLATTS WINDOW
* Indications are on a free-on-board (FOB) basis unless marked as cost, insurance and freight (CIF) or delivered at place (DAP).
* Forties: Unipec sold Vitol a cargo at dated Brent minus 20 cents, loading Mar. 9-11, a trade source said.
* Forties: Gunvor bid for a cargo at dated Brent minus 10 cents, loading Mar 20-22.
(Reporting by Rowena Edwards;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)