US Cash Crude-Grades rise as US crude stocks fall, WTI/Brent stays wide

HOUSTON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Grades rose on Wednesday, dealers said, after domestic crude stocks fell and the WTI/Brent spread stayed wide.

U.S. crude stocks fell as exports surged last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, declining by 2.3 million barrels to 423.8 million barrels in the week ended January 23, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.8 million-barrel rise. EIA/S

Meanwhile, the spread between WTI and Brent supported prices, trading as wide as minus $5.18 during the session. A spread larger than minus $4 typically encourages export demand, driving prices higher.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for March delivery rose 40 cents to a midpoint of a $1.63 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.50 and $1.75 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• Mars Sour rose 40 cents to a midpoint of a $1.30 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.40 and $1.20 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI Midland rose 15 cents to a midpoint of an 85-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 75-cent and 95-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• West Texas Sour rose 15 cents to a midpoint of a $2.15 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $2.25 and $2.05 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI at East Houston, also known as MEH, traded between a $1.05 and $1.25 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• ICE Brent March futures LCOc1 rose 83 cents to settle at $68.4 a barrel

• WTI March crude CLc1 futures rose 82 cents to settle at $63.21 a barrel

• The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 3 cents to last trade at minus $5.15 after hitting a high of minus $5.02 and a low of minus $5.18