US Cash Crude-Grades mixed crude stocks rise, WTI/Brent spread stays wide

HOUSTON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crudes were mixed on Wednesday, dealers said, as domestic crude stocks rose while export economics remained workable.

U.S. crude stocks climbed as imports rose to an 11-week high, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, while fuel inventories also increased as refining activity ticked higher.

Crude inventories climbed by 2.8 million barrels to 426.9 million barrels in the week ended November 21, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 55,000-barrel rise. EIA/S

Meanwhile the spread between West Texas Intermediate crude futures and global benchmark Brent stayed wide, which typically makes U.S. grades more attractive to foreign buyers.

The discount WTCLc1-LCOc1 traded as wide as minus $4.55 a barrel, suggesting an open arbitrage window.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery fell 57 cents to a midpoint of a $1.53 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.15 and $1.90 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• Mars Sour fell $1.43 to a midpoint of a 80-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 90-cent and 70-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI Midland rose 20 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 rose $1.98 to a midpoint of a 58-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 95-cent and 20-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

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

• ICE Brent January futures LCOc1 rose 65 cents to settle at $63.13 a barrel

• WTI January crude CLc1 futures rose 70 cents to settle at $58.65 a barrel

• The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 6 cents to last trade at minus $4.47, after hitting a high of minus $4.39 and a low of minus $4.55