North Sea spot differentials for Brent blend, Forties and Ekofisk — together with Brent CFDs — are expected to continue their recent slide as French strikes that have brought several French refineries to a standstill continued into their third week. Despite signs that more French refining capacity would be operational this week, spot differentials for BFOE grades would likely fall further as large North Sea crude buyer Total remained out of the market, traders said. “There’s still a long way [down] to go [for spot differentials] for Brent, Forties and Ekofisk,” a trader said. Brent Blend, Forties and Ekofisk spot differentials slid 2 cents/b, 0.5 cents/b and 5 cents/b respectively Monday on the back of offers from BP and Vitol. “The French strike is not helping the overall picture, light sweet [crude] is under pressure,” a second trader said. The restart Sunday of operations at the 274,000 b/d Grandpuits […]