The discount on Western Canada Select (WCS) heavy crude versus the North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) narrowed on Monday:
* The discount on WCS for January delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, settled at $19.00 a barrel under WTI, according to CalRock, tightening from a close of $20 a barrel under the U.S. benchmark on Friday.
* Canadian heavy differentials have been narrowing as seasonal U.S. refinery maintenance wraps up and may also be boosted by the U.S. seeking to buy up to 3 million barrels for its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, said Eight Capital analyst Phil Skolnick in a research note.
* Global benchmark oil prices settled up slightly as OPEC+ production cuts failed to fully offset worries around crude oversupply and softer fuel demand growth next year.
* The outright price of WCS was over $52 a barrel.
(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Rashmi Aich)