US rough rice futures at the Chicago Board of Trade ended mostly higher on Friday in light holiday trade, following the other CBOT grains and crude oil markets higher, traders said. Activity centered around the January/March spread, which weakened - moving back out to a carry - as traders exited January positions before the futures delivery period starts next week.
January ended 4 cents lower at $15.09-1/2 per cwt; March closed 10 higher at $15.14. Weekly export sales were disappointing. USDA reported that 23,300 tonnes of rice (all 2008/09) sold for export last week, down 77 percent from the previous week. Weekly trade data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will be issued on Monday, delayed one business day due to the Christmas holiday.