Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude grades were mixed on Tuesday in light trading ahead of the Christmas holiday and on the last day of the cash roll period that traders use to adjust their slates, dealers said.
WTI Midland was unchanged, while WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, gained 15 cents. Mars eased 15 cents.
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 square positions.
U.S. crude oil and distillate stocks fell, while gasoline stocks rose last week, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
Crude stocks fell 3.2 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 20, the sources said on condition of anonymity. Gasoline inventories rose by 3.9 million barrels, and distillate stocks fell by 2.5 million barrels, they said.
Meanwhile, the spread between U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude widened slightly but remained in a narrow range. A narrow spread between the global benchmark and WTI, particularly under minus-$4, typically discourages transatlantic demand.
* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for January delivery was unchanged at 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 CLc1
* Mars Sour WTC-MRS eased 15 cents to a midpoint of a 25-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between parity and 50-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1
* WTI Midland WTC-WTM was unchanged at 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 CLc1
* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS weakened 30 cents to a midpoint of a 25-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between parity and 50-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1
* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 60-cent and 90-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1
* ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 rose 95 cents to settle at $73.58 a barrel.
* WTI February crude CLc1 futures rose 86 cents to settle at $70.10 a barrel.
* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened five cents to last trade at minus-$3.44, after hitting a high of minus-$3.35 and a low of minus-$3.49.
(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Rod Nickel)
((Arathy.s@tr.com))