RTRS:GRAINS-Wheat, soy falls on strong dollar, rain forecasts
* Wheat down for 2nd day, soybeans also drop
* Corn firms after biggest decline in more than 4 months
* Forecasts of rain in U.S. and Russia weaken
* Outside markets retreat on caution before EU summit
(Updates with trade in European session)
HAMBURG/SINGAPORE, May 23 (Reuters) - Chicago soybeans again
fell on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and weak outside markets
pressured commodities, while wheat dropped for a second straight
session on forecasts of rain in parts of Russian and U.S. grain
producing regions.
Corn rose, regaining some ground on bargain hunting and
continued weather concerns after dropping around 5 percent on
Tuesday, in its biggest decline since January 12.
"I think wheat is being weakened by the stronger dollar,
lower outside markets and better forecasts for rain in Russia
and the U.S.," said Rabobank analyst Erin FitzPatrick. "We have
had improved forecasts for rain in the U.S. wheat belts over the
next week or so which is easing concerns about dryness there."
"There has also been a better weather outlook in Russia."
Chicago Board of Trade July wheat fell 2.1 percent to
$6.70-3/2 a bushel at 1040 GMT, dropping for a second day after
rising to its highest since Sept. 7 on a continuation chart
on Monday.
European benchmark wheat, the Paris November contract
, was down 2.1 percent or 4.50 euros at 210.00 euros.
Chicago July soybeans fell 1.2 percent to $13.64-3/4
per bushel, while July corn rose 0.2 percent to $5.98-1/2
a bushel.
"The overall selloff in wheat and soybeans is also to do
with what is going on in the background macro environment,"
FitzPatrick said. "We are seeing less support from short
covering following the large recent large short position held by
managed money in the CBOT wheat market."
European equities ended a two-day rally and safe-haven
assets such as the dollar rose on Wednesday, as investors
doubted any new measures to tackle the euro-zone debt crisis
would emerge from a European leaders summit and on renewed talk
of a Greek exit from the euro.
The euro hit a 21-month low and commodities and
commodity-linked currencies all slid in cautious trading ahead
of the European summit later on Wednesday which is expected to
discuss contentious growth-boosting proposals.
The dollar index, which measures the strength of the
greenback against a basket of currencies, rose 0.3 percent,
adding pressure on dollar-priced commodities.
"There are concerns over slowing growth in China, which is
putting pressure across the commodities complex, including
soybeans, and there are forecasts of rains in some dry areas of
the United States and Russia," said Lynette Tan, an analyst with
Phillip Futures.
"For corn, I think selling was overdone, so we could see
some bargain hunting."
The World Bank cut its economic growth forecast for China
this year to 8.2 percent from 8.4 percent on Wednesday and urged
the country to rely on easier fiscal policy that boosts
consumption rather than state investment to lift activity.
On the fundamental side, the welcome forecasts of rain in
key grain producing regions of Russia and the United States,
where dry weather stoked supply concerns last week.
Rains are due in some of Russia's drought-stricken southern
agricultural regions, but hot dry weather will persist in south
central European Russia and the southern Volga valley, the state
forecaster said on Tuesday.
"Corn is holding up partly because dryness concerns remain
in the U.S. despite the wetter forecasts, we will remain in a
weather market for corn for several more months," FitzPatrick
said. "It is still early to become overly concerned about
dryness but the U.S. crop does need to start getting more
rainfall."
"Managed money has very large net long positions in soybeans
and some speculative investors are looking to take risk off the
table or take profits."
There was better news from South American soybean producers
also suffering from lack of rain in recent weeks.
Brazil's drought-hit soybean crop, which is nearly
harvested, should produce 66.7 million tonnes, the Agroconsult
consultancy said on Tuesday, a figure that exceeds its prior
estimate of 65.8 million tonnes for the 2011/12 crop.
* Prices at 1040 GMT
Product Last Change Pct Move End 2011
Ytd Pct
Paris wheat 209.75 -3.00 -1.41 195.25
7.43
Paris maize 206.75 -1.75 -0.84 197.25
4.82
Paris rape 460.75 -5.75 -1.23 421.50
9.31
CBOT wheat 670.50 -15.00 -2.19 671.25
-0.11
CBOT corn 599.25 2.25 +0.38 654.75
-8.48
CBOT soybeans 1364.50 -17.75 -1.28 1207.75
12.98
Crude oil 90.87 -0.98 -1.07 98.83
-8.05
Euro/dlr 1.262681
* All grain and oilseed prices for second position.
Paris futures prices in Euros per tonne, London wheat in
pounds per tonne and CBOT in cents per bushel.
(Reporting by Michael Hogan and Naveen Thukral; editing by
Keiron Henderson)