Chicago agricultural commodities close mixed

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) grains futures closed mixed Friday, with corn and soybean futures finishing narrowly higher, while wheat futures settling lower.

The most active corn contract for December delivery rose 2.5 cents, or 0.74 percent, to 3.41 dollars per bushel. December wheat delivery fell 2.5 cents, or 0.62 percent, to 4.035 dollars per bushel. November soybeans rose 3.5 cents, or 0.36 percent, to 9.8025 dollars per bushel.

Investors try to position themselves ahead of Monday's USDA Supply/Demand Report. The USDA is likely to reduce its corn yield forecast and raise its soybean yield forecast in its report, analysts said.

Analysts estimated the corn yield at 173.4 bushels per acre, down from 175.1 bpa on Aug. 12, but still a record high and the average soybean yield 49.2 bpa, up from 48.9 bpa in August.

Bumper harvests could exacerbate supply pressure given large grain stocks, partly due to the reluctance of farmers to sell at low prices, analysts said.

Mike North, President Commodity Risk Management Group, said that short-covering in corn and buying in soybeans has been the feature throughout the week.

"This has lifted prices ahead of the Monday USDA report. Question over yield continues to be the catalyst to rallying markets," North says. 

Source : XINHUA