* April synthetic trades at $5.15/bbl above WTI
* April WCS trades at $12.50/bbl below WTI
March 1 (Reuters) - Synthetic crude prices traded strongly
on Tuesday, the first day of the new Canadian cycle, as traders
bid up the light crude on expected supply curbs due to upcoming
maintenance.
Light synthetic crude from the oil sands for April delivery
last traded at $5.15 per barrel above the West Texas
Intermediate benchmark, according to Shorcan Energy brokers, on
par with Monday's settlement. However, it was some 90 cents
stronger than Friday's $4.25 a barrel settlement.
Traders are looking ahead to major maintenance at one of
Suncor Energy Inc.'s SU.TO two oil sands upgraders, set to
start this month. They added, however, that the supply cuts
would likely be temporary and last a few months at most.
Meanwhile, Western Canada Select heavy blend crude weakened
slightly as it traded at a $12.50 a barrel discount to U.S.
crude futures from $12.45 a barrel settlement on Monday.
In the futures market, U.S. crude CLc1 rose 65 cents to
settle at $34.40 a barrel while international Brent LCOc1 rose
24 cents to settle at $36.81 a barrel.