US Cash Crude-Grades rise as WTI/Brent spread widens

July 10 (Reuters) - Grades broadly rose on Thursday, dealers said, as U.S. crude's discount to the international benchmark Brent widened for the third consecutive session.

A wider spread between WTI and Brent encourages foreign buying of U.S. crude.

U.S. crude futures' discount to Brent widened to as much as minus $3.25 a barrel.

On the supply side, U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose unexpectedly last week, while gasoline drew down on the back of strong driving demand ahead of the July Fourth weekend, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Gasoline stocks fell by 2.7 million barrels in the week to 229.5 million barrels, the EIA said, nearly double expectations for a 1.5 million-barrel draw.

Gasoline demand rose 6% to 9.2 million barrels per day last week.

* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for August was steady at a midpoint of a $2.80 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.60 and $3.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* Mars Sour WTC-MRS rose 10 cents to a midpoint of a 10-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between parity and 20-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI Midland WTC-WTM rose 10 cents to a midpoint of a 55-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 45-cent and 65-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS rose 5 cents to a midpoint of a parity and was seen bid and offered between a discount of 15 cents and 15-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 70-cent and 90-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* ICE Brent September futures LCOc1 fell $1.55 to settle at $68.64 a barrel

* WTI August crude CLc1 futures fell $1.81 to settle at $66.57 a barrel

* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 3 cents to last trade at minus $3.25, after hitting a high of minus $3.17 and a low of minus $3.31