Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures eased on Tuesday as better-than-expected rain in parts of the Midwest and forecasts for more showers lessened concerns about further yield losses in dry areas of the farm belt.
Wheat futures declined as pressure from an advancing U.S. harvest and a firmer U.S. dollar dragged down prices and triggered technical selling.
Fears of a prolonged U.S.-China trade war hung over grain markets a day after the U.S. Treasury Department branded China a currency manipulator.
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Grains markets shrugged off the optimistic view and remained focused on Midwest weather. Corn and soybeans are heading into key production phases when stressful conditions can hurt yield prospects.
Below-average condition ratings for both crops have not deviated much in recent weeks, although concerns about dryness have steadily grown.
“We got a little bit more rain than we were expecting last night so that’s adding some pressure,” said Ted Seifried, chief ag market strategist with Zaner Group.
More rain is expected in the 11- to 15-day forecast, with near-normal temperatures over the next two weeks, according to the Commodity Weather Group.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture pegged 57 per cent of the U.S. corn crop in good-to-excellent condition, down one percentage point from a week earlier, while soybean conditions were unchanged at 54 per cent. Conditions for both are below average following an overly wet spring planting season.
Chicago Board of Trade September corn fell 1-1/4 cents to $4.04 per bushel (all figures US$). The contract held chart support at its 200-day moving average.
CBOT November soybeans shed three cents to settle at $8.65-3/4 a bushel.
CBOT September wheat dropped 10-1/2 cents to $4.84 a bushel as the dollar strengthened. The contract failed to breach technical resistance at its 20-day moving average and selling accelerated as it fell below its 100-day moving average.
“The dollar is giving wheat its cue today. A stronger dollar means weaker wheat,” said Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics.
Abundant global supplies of wheat remained an obstacle for U.S. export sales prospects. A firmer dollar can make U.S. wheat even less attractive to buyers holding other currencies.
No U.S. wheat was offered in a tender by Egypt’s state grain buyer. Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian wheat was purchased.
— Reporting for Reuters by Karl Plume in Chicago; additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Naveen Thukral in Singapore.
