* WCS for March delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, strengthened throughout the day from $19.60 a barrel under WTI to finish at $19.00 a barrel below the U.S. benchmark, according to brokerage CalRock.
* Canadian heavy crude has been steadily narrowing this year
and is expected to strengthen further, investment firm Eight
Capital said in a research note, due to the opening of Mexico's
340,000 barrel per day Dos Bocas refinery in July.
* "We expect this to take that much Maya away from the U.S.
Gulf coast, thus increasing demand for Canadian heavy oil in the
U.S.," Eight Capital analysts said.
* Global oil prices rose for a third straight day as
investors felt more comfortable with risk a day after the
Federal Reserve chair's remarks eased concerns about future
interest rate hikes.
* The outright price of WCS was just under $60 a barrel.
(Reporting by Nia Williams
Editing by Chris Reese)
