Investing.com - U.S. grain futures were mixed on Thursday, as market players looked ahead to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly export report later in the session to gauge the strength of global demand for U.S. supplies.
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, U.S. soybeans futures for May delivery rose to a session high of $14.5025 a bushel, the most since March 20. Soybeans last traded at $14.4675 a bushel during U.S. morning hours, up 0.5%, or 7.15 cents.
The May soybean contract rose 0.84%, or 12.0 cents, on Wednesday to settle at $14.4000 a bushel.
Soybeans prices have been well-supported in recent sessions amid concerns over tightening U.S. supplies due to robust export demand.
Meanwhile, U.S. corn futures for May delivery inched up 0.23%, or 1.1 cents, to trade at $4.8513 a bushel. The May corn contract shed 0.41%, or 2.0 cents, on Wednesday to settle at $4.8440 a bushel.
Elsewhere on the CBOT, U.S. wheat for May delivery fell to a daily low of $6.9213 a bushel, the weakest level since March 24, before trimming losses to trade at $6.9338, down 0.55%, or 3.8 cents.
The May wheat contract lost 1.62%, or 11.4 cents, on Wednesday to settle at $6.9660 a bushel as forecasts for more rains eased concerns over the health of the U.S. winter-wheat crop.
Prices of the grain surged to an 11-month peak of $7.2340 a bushel on March 20. Futures have risen nearly 14% in March.
According to the USDA, nearly 21% of the Kansas wheat crop was rated in poor to very poor condition as of last week, compared with 20% a week earlier. Kansas is the largest wheat producing state in the U.S.
Corn is the biggest U.S. crop, followed by soybeans, government figures show. Wheat was fourth, behind hay.