Mars firms to highest since November on export demand
Mars crude grades strengthened on Monday to its strongest in nearly three months, dealers said, as West Texas Intermediate crude futures' discount to Brent widened, boosting export demand.
WTI's discount to international benchmark Brent widened as much as 32 cents to minus $6.52 a barrel. A wider discount, or arbitrage, makes U.S.-linked grades more attractive to foreign buyers.
Mars Sour (WTC-MRS) firmed 80 cents to a midpoint of a 50-cent discount, its strongest since mid-November when the grade traded last traded at a premium to U.S. crude futures. It also marked the third straight day of gains.
WTI at East Houston also firmed 25 cents.
Fixtures data showed at least five new very large crude carriers chartered for February and March to head to Europe from the Gulf Coast and eight headed to Asia, according to data from Kpler.
On the supply side, a preliminary Reuters poll showed that U.S. crude oil stockpiles likely rose by about 2.2 million last week.
* Light Louisiana Sweet (WTC-LLS) for March delivery was unchanged at a midpoint of a $3.80 premium, trading between a $3.60 and a $4 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures 
CL1!.
* Mars Sour (WTC-MRS) rose 80 cents to a midpoint of a 5-cent discount and traded between a 60 cent and a $1 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CL1!.
* WTI Midland (WTC-WTM) rose 20 cents to a midpoint of a $2.25 premium and traded between a $2 and a $2.50 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CL1!.
* West Texas Sour (WTC-WTS) rose 70 cents to a midpoint of a 25-cent discount and was bid and offered between flat and 50-cents a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CL1!.
* WTI at East Houston, also known as MEH, traded between $2.25 and $2.75 over WTI.
* ICE Brent April BRN1! futures rose $1.05 to settle at $80.99 a barrel.
* WTI March crude CL1! futures rose 72 cents to settle at $74.11 a barrel.
* The Brent/WTI spread (WTCLc1-LCOc1) widened 32 cents to minus $6.52, after hitting a high of minus $6.10 and a low of minus $6.53.