US Cash Crude-Grades mixed on first day of February trading

Dec 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crude grades were mixed on Thursday on the first day of February trading, dealers said, stabilizing after a volatile roll trade period, dealers said.

WTI Midland gained 5 cents, while WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, gained 50 cents. Mars eased 20 cents.

Traders use the three-day roll period to manage exposure and square positions, and trade is typically volatile during those days.

Investors waited inventory and demand data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, due at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT) on Friday, later than normal because of the Christmas holiday.

Analysts expect crude inventories fell by about 1.9 million barrels in the week to Dec. 20, while gasoline and distillate inventories are seen having fallen by 1.1 million barrels and 0.3 million barrels, respectively.

Crude stocks fell last week by 3.2 million barrels, market sources said on Tuesday, citing data from the American Petroleum Institute industry group.

The spread between U.S. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude widened to its most in nearly 10 days, but remained in a narrow range. A narrow spread between the global benchmark and WTI, particularly under minus-$4, typically discourages transatlantic demand.

* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for February delivery strengthened $1 to a midpoint of a $2.50 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $2.50-and-$3.50-a-barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* Mars Sour WTC-MRS eased 20 cents to a midpoint of a 20-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between parity and a 40-cent-a-barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI Midland WTC-WTM strengthened 5 cents to a midpoint of a 70-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 50-cent and 90-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS weakened 10 cents to a midpoint of a 35-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between parity and a 70-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 60-cent and 90-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 fell 32 cents to settle at $73.26 a barrel.

* WTI February crude CLc1 futures fell 46 cents to settle at $69.62 a barrel.

* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 14 cents to last trade at minus $3.62, after hitting a high of minus $3.43 and a low of minus $3.65.

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston; Editing by Leslie Adler)

((Arathy.s@tr.com))