US soyabean futures firmed on Monday after two sessions of declines as traders anticipated more purchases by China after the world's top soya importer last week booked its first US shipments in six months.
Corn eased on profit-taking, but the market remained underpinned by hopes for imports by China as part of a trade war truce between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier this month.
Wheat futures climbed, supported by a weaker US dollar and rising wheat prices in top exporter Russia.
The US Department of Agriculture did not announce any new export sales on Monday via its daily reporting system after confirming more than 1.5 million tonnes in soyabean sales to China last week.
Traders are expecting additional soyabean buying as the initial tranche of deals fell short of market expectations for at least 5 million tonnes in purchases. Some traders also expect China to buy US corn, wheat and other agricultural goods.
Chicago Board of Trade March soyabeans were up 7 cents at $9.20-3/4 a bushel at 11:23 a.m. CST (1723 GMT) after falling more than 2 percent over the previous two sessions.
CBOT March wheat added 5-1/2 cents to $5.35-1/2 a bushel, while March corn fell by 1-1/4 cents to $3.83-1/2 a bushel.
Russian wheat export prices rose sharply last week, and concerns are mounting that the country may limit exports later this season.
An unexpectedly large increase in long positions by commodity funds last week weighed on corn prices, Gold said.
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said Friday that funds switched to a net long position of nearly 30,000 contracts in the week ended Dec. 11, from net short 14,000 contracts the previous week. It was the first time funds were net long in corn since late June.