US Cash Crude-Grades weaken as WTI/Brent spread narrows to most since March

May 8 (Reuters) - U.S. cash crude differentials largely weakened on Thursday, dealers said, as U.S. crude's discount to the international benchmark Brent narrowed.

U.S. crude futures' discount to Brent narrowed to as much as $3.28 a barrel on Thursday, the narrowest since March 31. A narrower spread makes U.S. grades less attractive to foreign buyers.

U.S. cash crude grades broadly weakened. West Texas Sour WTC-WTS weakened 15 cents at a midpoint of a 30-cent discount, its weakest since April 25.

In trade developments, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with China's top economic official on May 10 in Switzerland for negotiations over a trade war that is disrupting the global economy. Optimism around those talks was providing support to the market, said SEB analyst Ole Hvalbye.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a "breakthrough deal" on trade that leaves in place a 10% tariff on goods imported from the UK while Britain agreed to lower its tariffs to 1.8% from 5.1% and provide greater access to U.S. goods.

Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for May delivery weakened 5 cents at a midpoint of a $2.15 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.00 and $2.30 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

Mars Sour WTC-MRS weakened 10 cents at a midpoint of a $1.25 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.15 and $1.35 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI Midland WTC-WTM weakened 5 cents at a midpoint of a 65-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 55-cent and 75-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

West Texas Sour WTC-WTS weakened 15 cents at a midpoint of a 30-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 50-cent and 10-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 65-cent and 85-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

ICE Brent July futures LCOc1 rose $1.72 to settle at $62.84 a barrel on Thursday .

WTI June crude CLc1 futures rose $1.84 to settle at $59.91 a barrel on Thursday .

The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 narrowed 9 cents to last trade at minus $3.33, after hitting a high of minus $3.28 and a low of minus $3.38.