US MIDDAY: grains up

Chicago Board of Trade grain futures were higher on Friday, with gains in wheat and corn fuelled by strong weekly US export data and a weaker US dollar, traders said. Informa Economics' acreage estimates, released late morning, also were viewed as bullish for corn and soyabeans. Sources said the report pegged planted acres for soyabeans at 76.654 million, corn plantings at 90.903 million.
Traders had expected higher estimates. CBOT trends at 10:41 am CST (1618 GMT) on Friday: March wheat up 18-1/4 cents at $8.21-3/4 per bushel. March corn up 7 cents at $6.61 per bushel. March soyabeans up 3 cents at $14.17-1/4 per bushel.