CBOT Trends-Soybeans up 7-9 cents, corn and wheat up 1-2
NOTE: Thursday is the final day of the five-session "Goldman roll," in which the S&P GSCI fund rolls long positions in May grain contracts forward.
Some US markets, including CBOT grain and oilseed futures, will be closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday. Trade will resume on Sunday at 7 p.m. CDT (0000 GMT).
WHEAT - Up 1 to 2 cents per bushel
Firmer on spillover strength from soybeans and corn, and strong weekly US export data. Short-covering ahead of a three-day US holiday weekend adds support.
Weaker dollar lends support, theoretically making US grains more attractive on the world market, after US President Donald Trump said the currency was getting too strong.
The US Department of Agriculture reported weekly export sales of old-crop US wheat at 421,600 tonnes, toward the high end of trade expectations, and new-crop sales at 125,300 tonnes, in line with expectations.
CBOT May soft red winter wheat last up 3/4 cent at $4.34 per bushel; K.C. May hard red winter wheat up 1/4 cent at $4.30-1/4; MGEX May spring wheat up 3-1/2 cents at $5.32-1/4.
CORN - Up 1 to 2 cents per bushel
Heading higher for a second session on worries about rains in the US Midwest slowing the start of planting, short-covering ahead of the long weekend and spillover strength from soybeans. CBOT May corn matched Wednesday's one-week high of $3.71-1/2 ahead of the break in trade.
Weaker US dollar lends support.
The USDA reported weekly export sales of old-crop US corn at 738,000 tonnes and new-crop sales at 50,000 tonnes, both below trade expectations.
Rallies capped by expectations for big South American corn harvests that should boost global inventories.
CBOT May corn last up 2-1/2 cents at $3.71-1/2 a bushel.
SOYBEANS - Up 7 to 9 cents per bushel
Heading higher for a second session on bargain buying after the spot contract hit on one-year low on Tuesday. Softer US dollar adds support.
Top global soy buyer China imported 6.33 million tonnes of soybeans in March, a record for the month, Chinese customs figures showed.
The USDA reported weekly export sales of old-crop US soybeans at 402,200 tonnes, at the low end of trade expectations, and new-crop sales at 124,700 tonnes, below expectations.
The USDA reported weekly export sales of old-crop soymeal at 158,700 tonnes and new-crop sales at 79,500 tonnes, in line with trade expectations.
The USDA reported weekly soyoil export sales at 18,700 tonnes, all old-crop and in line with expectations.
Malaysian June palm oil futures fell 0.9 percent on a stronger ringgit currency and an announcement that Malaysia's crude palm oil export tax would be higher than expected.
CBOT May soybeans last up 9 cents at $9.56-3/4 a bushel.