US Cash Crude-Grades mixed after US crude stocks fall, fuels jump

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Cash crude grades were mixed on Thursday, dealers said, after domestic crude stocks fell but fuels rose sharply on softer demand last week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.2 million barrels to 415.6 million barrels in the week ending Dec. 27, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.8 million-barrel draw.

U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 7.7 million barrels to 231.4 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles rose by 6.4 million barrels to 122.9 million barrels.

Meanwhile, U.S. energy executives expect faster permitting times for drilling on federal lands under President-elect Donald Trump, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas survey released on Thursday, which could help raise production.

The overall outlook brightened and activity levels increased while uncertainty declined in the final quarter of 2024, according to a December survey of 134 energy firms in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for February delivery eased 5 cents to a midpoint of a $2.25 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.10 and $2.40 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* Mars Sour WTC-MRS fell 5 cents to a midpoint of a 25-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 20-cent and 30-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI Midland WTC-WTM was unchanged at a midpoint of a 75-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 65-cent and 85-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS gained 17 cents to a midpoint of a 8-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a discount of 25 cents and 10-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 90-cent and $1.10 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* ICE Brent March futures LCOc1 rose $1.29 to settle at $75.93 a barrel on Thursday

* WTI February crude CLc1 futures rose $1.41 to settle at $73.13 a barrel

* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 1 cent to last trade at minus $3.40, after hitting a high of minus $3.36 and a low of minus $3.46

(Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston; Editing by Richard Chang)

((Georgina.McCartney@tr.com))