* CBOT wheat drops 2.7 percent as losing streak hits sixth day
* Corn off 1.4 percent on wheat decline; planting progress weighs
* Soybeans rise ahead of monthly processor data (Updates with closing prices)
By Mark Weinraub
CHICAGO, May 14 (Reuters) – U.S. wheat futures fell for the sixth day in a row on Wednesday, extending a losing streak during which the benchmark contract has shed 6.6 percent of its value because of ample global stocks and waning demand for U.S. supplies.
Corn also was weak, pressured by the drop in the wheat market as well as active planting of the U.S. crop and technical selling.
Read Also
Canola trade watchful during harvest intermission
The flow of speculative money, reacting to whatever world news is available, can be expected to steer grain and oilseed futures in this stretch between Northern and Southern Hemisphere harvests, Phil Franz-Warkentin writes.
Soybeans firmed, closing higher on firm cash markets and bargain buying after an early dip sparked some fund buying, traders said.
Wheat notched the biggest losses, falling 2.6 percent and hitting its lowest in nearly three weeks.
“Wheat is lower across the board as large global supplies are weighing on prices,” said Sterling Smith, futures specialist with Citigroup. “The large gains seen in recent months in the U.S. futures market has priced U.S. wheat out of the market and we are going to need to see a correction to equalize those issues, as global cash prices are not going to climb to meet the board.”
Chicago Board of Trade July soft red winter wheat futures settled down 19 cents at $6.90-1/4 a bushel. The contract fell through key support at its 30-day, 40-day and 50-day moving averages.
CBOT wheat has fallen for six days after hitting a 13-month high of $7.35 on May 6.
CBOT July corn was 7-1/4 cents lower at $4.95-1/2 a bushel, falling below its 50-day moving average and hitting its lowest since April 22.
CBOT July soybeans rose 3 cents to $14.86-3/4 a bushel.
Traders noted positioning ahead of the monthly U.S. report on crush data and oilseed stocks from the National Oilseed Processors Association on Thursday. The report was expected to show that pace of crushing during April crush was the highest for the month in five years.
Prices at 2:40 p.m. CDT (1940 GMT)
LAST NET PCT YTD
CHG CHG CHG
CBOT corn 495.50 -7.25 -1.4% 17.4%
CBOT soy 1486.75 2.25 0.2% 13.3%
CBOT meal 486.50 1.80 0.4% 11.1%
CBOT soyoil 41.38 0.17 0.4% 6.6%
CBOT wheat 690.25 -19.00 -2.7% 14.0%
CBOT rice 1528.00 -4.50 -0.3% -1.5%
EU wheat 200.75 -2.75 -1.4% -3.9%
US crude 102.12 0.42 0.4% 3.8%
Dow Jones 16,603 -113 -0.7% 0.2%
Gold 1306.16 13.42 1.0% 8.4%
Euro/dollar 1.3710 0.0007 0.1% 0.4%
Dollar Index 80.0610 -0.0820 -0.1% 0.0%
Baltic Freight 1002 20 2.0% -56.0%
In U.S. cents, benchmark contracts, except EU wheat (euros) and
soymeal (dollars). CBOT wheat, corn and soybeans per bushel,
rice per hundredweight, soymeal per ton and soyoil per lb.
(Additional reporting by Julie Ingwersen in Chicago; editing by
Andrew Hay and Diane Craft)
