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

HOUSTON, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Grades were mixed on Wednesday, dealers said, on the third and final 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 20 cents a barrel.

U.S. oil refiners are expected to have about 145,000 barrels per day (bpd) of capacity offline in the week ending on December 26, increasing available refining capacity by 41,000 bpd, research company IIR Energy said.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery fell 70 cents to a midpoint of a $2 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.00 and $3.00 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• Mars Sour rose 55 cents to a midpoint of a 20-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 30-cent and 10-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

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• WTI Midland fell 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

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• 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 65-cent and 85-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1
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• ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 fell 14 cents to settle at $62.24 a barrel

• WTI February crude CLc1 futures fell 3 cents to settle at $58.35 a barrel

• The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 12 cents to last trade at minus $3.88, after hitting a high of minus $3.84 and a low of minus $4.00