(Updates for market close)
By Renee Hickman
CHICAGO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade
(CBOT) corn and wheat futures fell back on Thursday on a
stronger dollar following rate cuts by the European Central
Bank, technical trading and slower-than-anticipated weekly
export sales, according to analysts.
The dollar rose versus the euro, making U.S. exports
less competitive, as the European Central Bank cut interest
rates for the fourth time this year and U.S. consumer prices
posted the biggest rise in seven months.
Data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on
Thursday morning showed net corn export sales at 946,900 metric
tons, below analyst forecasts for at least 1.1 million tons in a
Reuters poll.
Soybean sales of 1,173,800 metric tons were also below trade
estimates, although the USDA later announced another 334,000
tons of daily sales to undisclosed buyers.
The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of
Trade settled down 4-3/4 cents at $5.58-1/2 a bushel.
CBOT corn ended 4-3/4 cents lower at $4.43-1/2 a
bushel, and soybeans closed up 1/4 cent at $9.95-3/4 a
bushel following earlier losses.
Profit-taking following prior-session gains and technical
selling added pressure, said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities
economist at StoneX.
March corn futures hit overhead technical resistance at
the 200-day moving average, he said.
Slight gains in soybeans were capped as Brazilian crop
agency Conab on Thursday nudged up its forecast of 2024/25
soybean production to a new record.
Wheat drew support from market chatter that a planned
Russian export quota for the second half of the season may be
reduced.
But, cheap supplies from Argentina and Australia gave the
wheat market little reason to sustain a rally.
"When you get these other headwinds of a stronger dollar and
corn turning lower, the whole complex just kind of gave in and
turned lower together," Suderman said.