Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S. crude grades largely eased on Monday, dealers said, the second day of cash roll that traders use to square positions.
WTI Midland eased 15 cents to trade at a 65-cent premium. In a rare occurrence, WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, weakened 20 cents to trade at a 60-cent premium, below that of WTI Midland.
Prices to roll U.S. crude oil positions from December to January traded at 70 cents a barrel, dealers said.
Traders use the three-day roll period to manage exposure and adjust their slates.
Meanwhile, the spread between U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude continued to remain narrow and traded as high as minus $3.28. A narrow spread between the global benchmark and WTI, particularly under minus $4, typically discourages transatlantic demand.
* Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery eased 25 cents to a midpoint of a $1.50 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.25 and $1.75 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
* Mars Sour gained 40 cents to a midpoint of a 40-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 20-cent and 60-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
* WTI Midland eased 15 cents to a midpoint of a 65-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 50-cent and 80-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
* West Texas Sour eased 20 cents to a midpoint of a 35-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between parity and a 70-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
* WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded between a 40-cent and 80-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures
* ICE Brent February futures fell 31 cents to settle at $72.63 a barrel on Monday
* WTI February crude futures remained unchanged at $69.24 a barrel on Monday.
* The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 7 cents to last trade at minus $3.41, after hitting a high of minus $3.28 and a low of minus $3.47.
(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Chris Reese)
((Arathy.s@tr.com))
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