EU wheat steady as Black Sea risks support

European wheat inched up on Wednesday as concern about war escalation in the Black Sea export zone and cold weather in Russia helped underpin prices in thin trading before the Christmas break, dealers said. March wheat (BL2H6), the most active contract on Paris-based Euronext, was 0.1% up at 189.25 euros ($222.45) a metric ton by 1122 GMT, after touching a near two-week high at 189.75 euros. The benchmark contract was set for a fifth straight daily rise as it recovers from a contract low of 185 euros a ton hit last Wednesday. Chicago wheat also rose for a fifth session. Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports have reinforced short-covering by investors that often occurs before the year-end holidays. The strikes have disrupted Ukrainian grain exports and taken attention away from a U.S. diplomatic push to end the conflict. Severe cold in Russia this week has also encouraged short-covering, though some analysts say snow cover should initially protect winter wheat from frost damage. Gains ...