Europe Gasoline/Naphtha-Cracks slip, U.S. arb supports

LONDON, Oct (HKSE: 3366-OL.HK - news) 27 (Reuters) - Gasoline refining margins in northwest Europe edged lower for a second straight day as crude price rose, while stronger transatlantic exports supported.

* ARA gasoline stocks rose to 662,000 tonnes in the week to Thursday from 636,000 tonnes a week earlier, Dutch consultancy PJK International said.

* The arbitrage from Europe to the U.S. East Coast widened following Wednesday's EIA data that showed a larger than expected draw in gasoline stocks.

* Delays in the return from maintenance of Irving Oil's 300,000 bpd Saint John refinery on Canada's east coast and lower throughput on the Colonial Pipeline also supported the market, traders said.

* At least 8 gasoline cargoes were booked over the past day on the transatlantic route to the United States and Mexico, according to shipping data.

* Asia's naphtha crack rose to reach a 6-1/2 month high of $76.73 a tonne, supporting European prices. The arbitrage from Europe has been limited due to refinery maintenance.

GASOLINE

* Gunvor sold to Vitol two barges of benchmark Eurobob gasoline in the afternoon trading window at $492 a tonne fob ARA.

* No barges traded outside the window throughout the day.

* Gunvor sold to Total (LSE: 524773.L - news) a barge of premium unleaded gasoline at $516 a tonne fob ARA, up from $516 a tonne on Wednesday.

* The November swap stood at around $492 a tonne at the close, unchanged.

* Gasoline barge refining margins stood at $9.62 a barrel, down from $10.04 a barrel.

* Brent crude oil futures for December delivery were 82 cents a barrel higher at $50.80 by 1601 GMT.

* U.S. November RBOB gasoline futures were trading 0.3 percent higher at $1.4875 a gallon.

* The U.S. gasoline crack (RB-CL1=R) traded at $12.22 a tonne, little changed.

NAPHTHA (NAF-C-NWE)

* No cargoes traded.

(Reporting by Ron Bousso)