CBOT corn ends down as crude and gold plunge

CHICAGO: Chicago Board of Trade corn futures closed lower Wednesday on long liquidation tied to a firm dollar and plunging crude oil and gold.

* The euro slid to an 11-month low against the dollar as investors speculated that more euro zone countries may be downgraded in the near term given that a quick solution to the region's debt crisis remains elusive.

* Credit Agricole will take a 2011 loss, write off $3.24 billion worth of assets and cut 2,350 jogs and exit the commodities business in a cull of its investment banking operations.

* Showers in the US Midwest and Plains this week and next will add to soil moisture reserves, buoying prospects for the 2012 crop year - World Weather Inc.

* Dry weather in portions of South America becoming an increasing concern, mainly for soybeans, but also for corn.