US Cash Crude-Grades fall on first full day of volatile roll trade period

HOUSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Physically traded U.S. crude fell on Friday, dealers said, on the first full day of the volatile roll trading period.

Traders use the three-day roll period to adjust their crude slates, square up positions and net out exposures following the expiration of the U.S. crude futures contract.

Prices to roll U.S. crude oil futures positions from December to January traded at a midpoint of 25 cents a barrel.

U.S. oil refiners are expected to have about 645,000 barrels per day of capacity offline in the week ending November 21, increasing available refining capacity by 145,000 bpd, research company IIR Energy said on Friday.

Offline capacity is expected to fall to 187,000 bpd in the week ending November 28, IIR said.

Meanwhile losses were curbed 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 $4.50 a barrel, suggesting an open arbitrage window.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for December delivery fell 30 cents to a midpoint of a $1.90 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.80 and $2.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• Mars Sour fell 65 cents to a midpoint of a 50-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 40-cent and 60-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI Midland fell 5 cents to a midpoint of a 40-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 30-cent and 50-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• West Texas Sour fell 35 cents to a midpoint of a $1.98 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $2.35 and $1.60 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded between a 60-cent and 80-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• ICE Brent January futures LCOc1 fell 82 cents to settle at $62.56 a barre

• WTI January crude CLc1 futures fell 94 cents to settle at $58.06 a barrel

• The Brent/WTI spread widened 12 cents to last trade at minus $4.50, after hitting a high of minus $4.35 and a low of minus $4.53