Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) grains futures settle mixed on Thursday in technically driven trade as investors squared positions toward the end of the year and the dollar firmed.
The most active corn contract for March delivery rose 1.5 cents, or 0.43 percent, to 3.4975 dollars per bushel.
March wheat delivery added 3.25 cents, or 0.81 percent, to 4.0475 dollars per bushel.
January soybeans fell 3.75 cents, or 0.37 percent, to 10.1275 dollars per bushel.
In the soy product markets, March meal again had resistance against the 200-day moving average, while the March soyoil closed under the 100-day moving average for the first time since September.
Commodity fund traders were estimated sellers of 5,000 soybean, 2,500 soymeal, and 3,500 soyoil contracts.
Planting progress in Argentina was estimated 84 percent complete by the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange.
The Exchange maintains a total area planted estimate of 19.6 million hectares, which leaves 3.1 million left to be planted.
Planting progress is still slightly behind both last year and the 5 year average, but producers have maintained an average planting pace of just over 1.9 million hectares per week this year.
With cooperating weather the 2016/17 planting season could be wrapped up in the next 2 weeks.
The export sales report will be the highlight for Friday, followed by very uneventful trading in the last day of the year.
In the outside markets, the Brent crude oil market is 0.43 dollar per barrel lower, the U.S. dollar is lower, and the Dow Jones Industrials are 27 points lower at 19,806 points.
Cory Bratland, Kluis Commodities broker, says the U.S. grain prices are giving back some of their gains from Tuesday.
"Weather markets are famous for this action, and that is what the market is doing - keeping a close eye on the weather in South America. Year-end positioning is taking place, too," Bratland stated in a daily note to customers.
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