Chicago | Reuters—Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose on Wednesday after a four-session slide, amid strength in crude oil markets and signs of continued U.S. export demand for the oilseeds, market analysts said.
Wheat futures firmed for a second day on lower-than-expected crop condition ratings, while corn prices ticked lower as the harvest winds down in the U.S.
The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Sv1 ended up 11-1/4 cents at $9.76-1/2 a bushel. Wheat Wv1 gained 2-3/4 cents to finish at $5.73-1/4 per bushel, while corn Cv1 settled down 2-1/4 cents at $4.11-1/2 bushel.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Wednesday one sale of 132,000 metric tons of soybeans to China and another 132,000 tons to unknown destinations. The agency also reported sales of 273,048 tons of corn to unknown destinations.
The soybean price bounce on Wednesday was mostly tied to those sales, said Austin Schroeder, a commodity analyst at Brugler Marketing & Management.
He added that a recovery in crude oil is also lending support to soyoil, and that some spillover strength from wheat is likely at play.
Wheat futures continued to gain strength amid worries over disappointing winter wheat conditions in the United States as dry weather impeded planting, Schroeder said. But he cautioned that it could be too soon to know how the current winter wheat conditions will impact final yields.
The USDA late on Monday reported U.S. winter wheat in 38% good to excellent condition, well below trade expectations for 47% good to excellent, according to analysts polled by Reuters.
However, wetter weather is forecast for the U.S. Midwest and Plains into next week, which should ease dryness for the crop, according to Commodity Weather Group.
—Additional reporting by Bernadette Christina in Jakarta and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris
