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US soybean futures closed higher on Friday (December 17, 2021), with South American crops hitting a 2-1 / 2 month high due to weather concerns, combined with chart-based buying, traders said.
Corn futures set a four-month high near $6 a bushel and wheat followed the firm trend.
Chicago Board of Trade January soybeans settled up 8 cents at $12.85-1/4 a bushel after reaching $12.97-1/2, the highest since Sept. 30. Technical buying was noted as the contract pushed above its 100-day moving average near $12.77.
CBOT March corn ended up 2 cents at $5.93-1/4 a bushel, paring gains after reaching $5.98-3/4, the contract's highest since Aug. 12. March wheat climbed 4-1/2 cents to settle at $7.75 a bushel.
Soybeans and corn rose on uncertainty about South American crop prospects given dry conditions in southern Brazil and portions of Argentina.
"Soybeans were the leader in today’s session as fresh buying interest surfaced ... This was sparked by a few different factors, with building concerns over the dry conditions in South America leading the way," Karl Setzer, analyst with AgriVisor, wrote in a note.
Argentina's weather outlook poses a "big challenge" for soybean and corn production, with lower-than-normal rainfall expected during the region's summer, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said this week. read more
In Brazil, rains were forecast for northern soy areas over the next two weeks while dryness should persist in southern areas, meteorologists said.
Corn and wheat futures got a lift from news of China seeking feed grains on the world market. Chinese importers booked French wheat and barley this week following a slide in prices, European traders said. Find more.
Source: Online/SZK
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