Hard red winter wheat futures on the Kansas City Board of Trade ended Friday's two-sided session higher, helped by strong export sales and an upturn in crude oil values. Benchmark March ended up 3-1/2 cents a bushel at $6.33-1/2, after falling as low as $6.15 in the pit and $6.13 in more-active electronic trade.
Chicago Board of Trade wheat and corn futures also ended higher as a bounce in crude oil values helped reverse early losses. Gains in US stocks helped fuel higher wheat price movement as well. Wheat prices found chief support in solid export sales data after USDA said Friday weekly export sales for US wheat totalled 418,100 tonnes, well above trade estimates for 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes.