North Sea Crude-WTI rises slightly, Forties steady

U.S. WTI Midland crude differentials rose slightly on Thursday while those for Forties and other North Sea grades were steady.

PLATTS WINDOW

* Indications are on a free-on-board (FOB) basis unless marked as cost, insurance and freight (CIF) or delivered at place (DAP).

* No deals, a trade source said.

* WTI Midland: Mercuria bid for May 21-25 CIF Rotterdam at dated Brent plus 55 cents, equal to about dated minus 51 cents on a FOB basis according to Reuters calculations and up from the last assessment of dated minus 61 cents.

* Forties: Shell offered a June 1-7 cargo at dated Brent plus 60 cents, higher than the last assessment of dated minus 49 cents on a FOB basis.

* WTI Midland is still the cheapest of the six grades underpinning dated Brent and so sets the benchmark.