US wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed lower on Friday, after volatile session that saw prices rally then fall, as a big global wheat crop continued to weigh on prices, traders said. Falling corn and soyabeans also weighed on the wheat market.
CBOT SRW wheat closed 6-3/4 lower to 4-1/2 higher, with September down 5-1/2 at $8.04 per bushel. Kansas City HRW wheat was down 3/4 to 9, with September down 3/4 at $8.37-3/4 per bushel. Minneapolis spring wheat closed unchanged to 8 cents per bushel higher, with September up 8 at $8.88 per bushel.
Volume was moderate to light. Estimated CBOT wheat trade was 68,492 futures and 20,536 options. KCBT volume was pegged at 12,163 futures and Minneapolis at 4,672 futures. In Chicago, funds sold 3,000 contracts. Egypt's GASC bought 145,000 tonnes wheat. South Korea wheat importers cut flour prices. FAO sees record cereals production in 2008.
Minor rain-related slowdowns seen for remaining harvest of US HRW crop in the US Plains. Harvest winding down with some acreage remaining to be cut in portions of Nebraska, Colorado and minor amount of harvesting remains in top producer Kansas. September contract below all key moving averages with first resistance at 50 day MA of $8.33-1/2.