Hard red winter wheat futures on the Kansas City Board of Trade ended lower on Monday, closing out a two-sided session that saw wheat largely a follower to outside markets. The KCBT May ranged from $5.64 to $5.78-1/4, before ending down 1/2 cent at $5.70. Traders said volume was thin.
Strength in Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures helped lend support to wheat prices. Also supportive, the US Agriculture Department said weekly export inspections of US wheat totalled 20.657 million bushels, slightly above trade estimates for 16 million to 20 million bushels. But weaker crude values and declines in US stocks provided pressure to grains.
Traders said large world wheat stocks remained a persistent pressure point, while worries about possible freeze damage from last week's storm across the US Plains offered underpinning. Improved moisture in many areas and forecasts for a return to more seasonal weather later this week was seen helping the new crop. On the export front, Iraq on Sunday issued a tender to buy a minimum of 50,000 tonnes of wheat from any origin, with bids due April 19.