US Cash Crude-Grades mixed on second day of volatile roll period

HOUSTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Grades were mixed on Tuesday, dealers said, on the second 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 January to February traded at a midpoint of 15 cents a barrel.

U.S. crude stocks rose by 2.39 million barrels in the week ended December 19, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

Gasoline inventories rose by 1.09 million barrels, while distillate inventories rose by 685,000 barrels from a week earlier, the sources said.

Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery was steady at a midpoint of a $2.70 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.40 and $3.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

Mars Sour fell 35 cents to a midpoint of a 75-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between an 85-cent and 65-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI Midland rose 15 cents to a midpoint of a 75-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 65-cent and 85-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

West Texas Sour was steady at a midpoint of a $2.60 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $2.70 and $2.50 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded between a 75-cent and 95-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 rose 31 cents to settle at $62.38 a barrel

WTI February crude CLc1 futures rose 37 cents to settle at $58.38 a barrel

The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 6 cents to last trade at minus $4, after hitting a high of minus $3.99 and a low of minus $4.10