US Cash Crude-WTI Midland, MEH firm as WTI's discount to Brent widens

Aug 18 (Reuters) - Cash crude differentials strengthened for WTI Midland and premiums for WTI at East Houston climbed to their highest since April on Monday as U.S. crude futures' discount to the international benchmark Brent widened to its most since June.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures' (WTI) discount to Brent WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened to as much as minus $3.92 a barrel, the most since June 13. A wider spread makes U.S. grades more attractive to foreign buyers.

WTI Midland WTC-WTM strengthened to a midpoint of a 90-cent premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1, the strongest since April. WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded at a midpoint of a $1.45 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures, its strongest since April.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India's purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow's war in Ukraine and had to stop.

The comments could push up the buying of U.S. oil by India. India has already stepped up its purchases of U.S. crude such as WTI Midland and Mars in recent weeks as the U.S. has threatened secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian oil.

U.S. crude oil and gasoline stockpiles were expected to have fallen last week, while distillate inventories likely rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for September delivery was unchanged at a midpoint of a $1.75 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.65 and $1.85 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* Mars Sour WTC-MRS eased 30 cents to a midpoint of a 75-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.00 and 50-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI Midland WTC-WTM rose 20 cents to a midpoint of a $1 premium and was seen bid and offered between a 75-cent and $1.25 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS was unchanged at a midpoint of a 10-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between discount of 20 cents and parity to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a $1.25 and $1.65 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* ICE Brent October futures LCOc1 rose 75 cents to settle at $66.6 a barrel on Monday.

* WTI September crude CLc1 futures fell 6 cents and is currently trading at $63.36 a barrel on Monday.

* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 5 cents to last trade at minus $3.92, after hitting a high of minus $3.72 and a low of minus $3.92.