Soyabean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed lower on Tuesday as most-active March lost 0.7 percent, ending a session dominated by profit-taking and fund-based selling, traders said. "There was just an exhaustion of buying interest across the floor," said Prudential Financial analyst Shawn McCambridge, referring to soy as well as corn and wheat.
He also noted the US dollar was weaker when the grain markets opened in Chicago, but turned around later, pressing soyabean prices. In addition, a slew of US Department of Agriculture reports scheduled for release on January 12 has left some traders jittery, McCambridge said. The Reuters-Jefferies CRB index of 19 commodities fell nearly 2 percent in its sharpest one-day drop since mid-November. January soyabeans ended down 9-1/4 cents at $13.61 per bushel; most-active March was down 9-1/2 at $13.69-1/2, new-crop November down 16-3/4 at $12.77-1/2.
March soymeal down $1.20 at $367.80 per ton. March soyoil down 0.85 cent at 56.85 cents per lb. Traders said underlying supply fundamentals remain mostly supportive for soyabean prices. US analyst Michael Cordonnier lowered his forecast of Argentine 2010/11 soyabean production to 45 million tonnes, from 48 million last week.