US Cash Crude-Grades eased as WTI/Brent spread holds below minus $4

HOUSTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. cash crude grades eased on Friday, dealers said, as the spread between U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude and global benchmark Brent held below minus $4.

WTI Midland eased 5 cents, while WTI at East Houston, also known as MEH, weakened 10 cents. Mars Sour eased 60 cents.

The spread between WTI and Brent settled at minus $3.95. A spread narrower than minus $4 discourages exports.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday cut the January Arab Light crude oil official selling price to Asia to $0.60 a barrel above the Oman/Dubai average, its lowest level in five years, according to a pricing document reviewed by Reuters, a move that could reduce demand for U.S. crude to Asia.

Meanwhile, U.S. energy firms this week added six oil rigs, an indicator of future output.

In refining news, U.S. oil refiners are expected to have about 54,000 barrels per day of capacity offline in the week ending December 5, increasing available refining capacity by 133,000 bpd, research company IIR Energy said on Friday.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery was unchanged at a midpoint of a $1.65 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.30 and $2.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• Mars Sour eased 10 cents to a midpoint of a $1.15 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.30 and $1.00 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• WTI Midland was 5 cents to a midpoint of a 55-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 40-cent and 70-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• West Texas Sour eased 10 cents to a midpoint of a $1 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.20 and 80-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded between a 50-cent and $1.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 rose 49 cents to settle at $63.75 a barrel on Friday​.

• WTI January crude CLc1 futures rose 41 cents to settle at $60.08 a barrel on Friday​.

• The Brent/WTI spread was steady, last trading at minus $3.95, after hitting a high of minus $3.94 and a low of minus $4.00.