U.S. wheat futures turned higher on Wednesday as worries about crop prospects in top global exporter Russia sparked a round of short-covering, analysts said.
U.S. soybean and corn futures climbed to two-month highs on Tuesday, following broad gains in commodity and equity markets after China unveiled economic stimulus measures, but pared gains as forecasts called for improved crop weather in South America, analysts said.
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures hit nearly a seven-week high on Monday as uncertainty about Brazilian planting weather and the size of the U.S. harvest sparked a round of fund-driven short-covering, analysts said.
Chicago corn and wheat futures ticked down on Thursday following lackluster export sales data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soybeans were dragged along for the ride despite more encouraging numbers, said analysts.
Soybean futures climbed on Wednesday on a round of short covering sparked by concerns over hot, dry weather in top producer Brazil that may threaten soybean seeding, traders said.
Chicago wheat futures eased on Tuesday as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine faded into the background and brisk exports of Black Sea wheat continued to pose tough competition to U.S. wheat exports, traders said.
Chicago wheat futures dipped from three-month highs on Monday on profit taking following the previous week's rally sparked by crop concerns in Europe and escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, traders said.
Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures reached a 12-week high on Friday as escalating tensions in Russia's war with Ukraine increased uncertainty about Black Sea exports.
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures ended higher on Thursday, rebounding from a drop to near two-week lows after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) raised its estimate of the U.S. corn crop, traders said.