US Cash Crude-Gustav juices Mars, LLS on slow day

HOUSTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The prospect of Hurricane
Gustav combined with limited, early-in-the-month trading to
boost differentials on the U.S. cash crude market Tuesday,
traders said.

Mars sour MRS- gained $1 to a bid-ask spread of West
Texas Intermediate CLc1 minus $6.00/$5.80 after trading at
-$6.80 Monday.

Light Louisiana Sweet LLS- sold for $2.30 over West Texas
Intermediate CLc1, up 30 cents.

On futures markets, October WTI CLV8 gained $1.16 to
$116.27. October Brent LCOV8 added 60 cents to $114.63.

Cash traders were taking a break Tuesday after finishing
September Monday, and light trading tended to exaggerate price
moves as Gustav churned northwestward over Haiti.

Longterm forecasts suggested the storm would continue
toward the U.S. Gulf Coast and threaten U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil
and gas production by Sunday.

Elsewhere among cash crudes, Heavy Louisiana Sweet HLS-
sold for +$1.25, weaker by 15 cents. WTI at Midland sold for
+17 cents, up from -20 cents at even Monday.

Alaska North Slope ASW- crude remained 70 cents under WTI
CLc1, and California crude buyers raised their posted prices
$1.15 in line with the rise in WTI.
(Reporting by Bruce Nichols; Editing by David Gregorio)