Mar. 18, 2010 (United Press International) -- Grain prices closed mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade, as the dollar index rose 0.77 percent and crude oil prices fell.
Corn was up 1 1/4 to up 2, soybeans were off 1 to up 3/4, wheat was off 6 3/4 to off 7 3/4 and oats off 1/2 to up 2.
Corn prices rallied late in the day as forecasts of rain in the Midwest provoked concerns of possible flooding. Wheat prices dropped as Tunisia purchased 25,000 metric tons, a third of a long-range tender. The soybean market was also influenced by Midwest weather predictions, including reports of minor flooding in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.
The prices:
Corn: May 3.76, up 2; Jly 3.87, up 1 3/4; Sep 3.96 1/4, up 1 1/2; Dec 4.05 1/4, up 1 1/4.
Soybeans: May 9.59 1/2, up 1/2; Jly 9.67 1/2, up 3/4; Aug 9.63 3/4, off 1/4; Sep 9.48 3/4, off 1.
Wheat: May 4.89 1/4, off 6 3/4; Jly 5.01 3/4, off 7; Sep 5.17 1/4, off 7 1/2; Dec 5.43 1/4, off 7 3/4.
Oats: May 2.25 1/2, up 1/2; Jly 2.34, up 1/2; Sep 2.40, up 1/2; Dec 2.53, unchanged.
