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

Sept 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crude grades rose on Friday, dealers said, as the spread between West Texas Intermediate crude futures and global benchmark Brent widened, which typically makes U.S. grades more attractive to foreign buyers.

The discount WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened to as much as minus $4.47 a barrel, suggesting an open arbitrage window.

Meanwhile, U.S. oil refiners were expected to have about 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of capacity offline in the week ending September 26, decreasing available refining capacity by 219,000 bpd, research company IIR Energy said.

Offline capacity was expected to increase to about 1.2 million bpd in the week ending October 3 and to 1.3 million bpd in the subsequent week, IIR added.

Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for November delivery rose 10 cents to a midpoint of a $2.30 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.20 and $2.40 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

Mars Sour WTC-MRS rose 55 cents to a midpoint of a 25-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 35-cent and 15-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI Midland WTC-WTM rose 15 cents to a midpoint of a 95-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 85-cent and $1.05 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

West Texas Sour WTC-WTS was steady at a midpoint of a 30-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 40-cent and 20-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a $1.30 and $1.50 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

ICE Brent November futures LCOc1 rose 71 cents to settle at $70.13 a barrel

WTI November crude CLc1 futures rose 74 cents to settle at $65.72 a barrel

The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 3 cents to last trade at minus $4.47, after hitting a high of minus $4.30 and a low of minus $4.47