HOUSTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Grades followed the bouncing spreads Wednesday then finished stronger for the day in thin trading, dealers, brokers and analysts said.
Light Louisiana Sweet sold as high as $2.40 over West Texas Intermediate before ending the day $2.00 over, up 20 cents.
Mars sour dealt as strongly as $2.25 under, then finished $2.50 under, still 55 cents pricier against WTI than on Tuesday.
On futures markets, February WTI rose 41 cents to $79.28 a barrel, February Brent 39 cents to $78.03. Analysts cited cold weather and the government's report of a crude draw.
February WTI gained on March WTI then ended 3 cents weaker at minus 75 cents. WTI fell against Brent then ended 2 cents stronger at plus $1.25.
Among other cash crudes, Heavy Louisiana Sweet sold from 75 cents to $1.10 over the screen, 45 to 80 cents stronger.
Eugene Island light sour sold for 50 cents under, 25 cents stronger than offers Tuesday. Southern Green Canyon sour dealt for minus $3.00, up 55 cents.
WTI at Midland rose 5 cents to change hands for 10 cents over the screen.
On the West Coast, buyers of California crudes raised posted prices 65 cents. The last publicly disclosed trade of Alaska North Slope crude Dec. 17 was $1.40 over WTI.
(Reporting by Bruce Nichols)
((Email: b.nichols@thomsonreuters.com; +1 713 210 8510; Reuters Messaging: bruce.nichols.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS USCRUDE (For help: Click 'Contact Us' in your desk top, click here or call 1-800-738-8377 for Reuters Products and 1-888-463-3383 for Thomson products; For client training: training.americas@thomsonreuters.com ; +1 646-223-5546) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Light Louisiana Sweet sold as high as $2.40 over West Texas Intermediate before ending the day $2.00 over, up 20 cents.
Mars sour dealt as strongly as $2.25 under, then finished $2.50 under, still 55 cents pricier against WTI than on Tuesday.
On futures markets, February WTI rose 41 cents to $79.28 a barrel, February Brent 39 cents to $78.03. Analysts cited cold weather and the government's report of a crude draw.
February WTI gained on March WTI then ended 3 cents weaker at minus 75 cents. WTI fell against Brent then ended 2 cents stronger at plus $1.25.
Among other cash crudes, Heavy Louisiana Sweet sold from 75 cents to $1.10 over the screen, 45 to 80 cents stronger.
Eugene Island light sour sold for 50 cents under, 25 cents stronger than offers Tuesday. Southern Green Canyon sour dealt for minus $3.00, up 55 cents.
WTI at Midland rose 5 cents to change hands for 10 cents over the screen.
On the West Coast, buyers of California crudes raised posted prices 65 cents. The last publicly disclosed trade of Alaska North Slope crude Dec. 17 was $1.40 over WTI.
(Reporting by Bruce Nichols)
((Email: b.nichols@thomsonreuters.com; +1 713 210 8510; Reuters Messaging: bruce.nichols.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: MARKETS USCRUDE (For help: Click 'Contact Us' in your desk top, click here or call 1-800-738-8377 for Reuters Products and 1-888-463-3383 for Thomson products; For client training: training.americas@thomsonreuters.com ; +1 646-223-5546) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.