GRAINS-Soybeans drop from two-week high as dollar and oil weigh
Updates with European trading, changes dateline
PARIS/SINGAPORE, June 18 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean futures eased from a two-week peak on Thursday as a stronger dollar and weaker oil prices curbed a rally driven by talk of Chinese demand.
Wheat and corn also edged down as a rebound in grain markets from multi-month lows lost impetus before a U.S. holiday weekend.
The most-active soybean contract Sv1 on the Chicago Board of Trade was down 0.8% at $11.40-1/4 a bushel at 1101 GMT. The benchmark hit a two-week high on Wednesday as it recovered from a four-month low on Monday.
CBOT wheat Wv1 inched down 0.1% to $6.20-1/2 a bushel, following a three-week high earlier in the session. CBOT corn Cv1 lost 0.7% to $4.18 a bushel after touching a one-week high.
Chicago markets will be closed on Friday for the Juneteenth holiday.
"This morning, CBOT prices are correcting slightly on a stronger dollar and further easing in oil prices," CM Navigator analyst Donatas Jankauskas said.
The dollar index =USD rose to a one-year high after a Federal Reserve policy meeting reinforced expectations for U.S. interest rate hikes this year. A stronger dollar makes U.S. commodities dearer for overseas buyers. FRX/
Crude oil fell to its lowest since the start of the Iran war as an interim deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz boosted the global supply outlook. O/R
A jump in oil prices during the war had lent support to grain markets as crops like corn and soyoil are used for biofuel. Disruption to fertiliser supplies from the Gulf had also raised concerns about knock-on effects on harvests.
Soybeans had drawn support this week from market talk that Chinese buyers were looking for U.S. cargoes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed private sales of 372,000 metric tons of soybeans to unknown destinations, which traders said could be destined for China.
"There was some buying interest over the past few sessions on talk of China looking to cover some U.S. supplies," said one grains trader in Singapore. "But overall, the supply picture is bearish."
Favourable Midwest weather for U.S. corn and soybean crops remained a curb on prices.
In wheat, heavy rain in some U.S. areas has created worry about quality damage while in France a heatwave has raised the risk of stress to some less mature crops.
However, expectations for large global production, including in top wheat exporter Russia, hung over the market and tempered reaction to news of a hefty import purchase by Algeria.
Prices at 1101 GMT |
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Last |
Change |
Pct Move |
CBOT wheat Wv1 |
620.50 |
-0.75 |
-0.12 |
CBOT corn Cv1 |
418.00 |
-3.00 |
-0.71 |
CBOT soy Sv1 |
1140.25 |
-9.00 |
-0.78 |
Paris wheat BL2c1 |
204.25 |
0.75 |
0.37 |
Paris maize EMAc1 |
213.00 |
0.75 |
0.35 |
Paris rapeseed COMc1 |
505.25 |
-4.50 |
-0.88 |
WTI crude oil CLc1 |
75.62 |
-1.17 |
-1.52 |
Euro/dollar EUR= |
1.15 |
0.00 |
-0.32 |
Most active contracts - Wheat, corn and soy U.S. cents/bushel, Paris futures in euros per metric ton |
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