World markets for grains and oilseeds

Market analysts said soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell in a choppy, thin-volume session Monday as weakness in energy markets and forecasts of mild weather for Brazil’s oilseed crop weighed on prices. The most-active March soybeans contract fell 3-3/4 cents to $9.75-1/2 a bushel. The most-active CBOT March soybean meal contract fell $4.20 to $298.00 a short ton. Spot soybean meal prices at Midwest auto terminals were steady or even lower Monday, dealers said. Dealers said trading was light as few end users met needs ahead of the year-end holidays. Trading activity is expected to remain muted through the week, with futures markets closed Wednesday for the Christmas holiday. Soybean prices remain near four-year lows hit last week as analysts forecast rainfall to benefit Brazil’s crop, which is expected to post a record harvest. A stronger dollar, compared with weakness in Brazil’s real, also weighed on corn and soybean markets. The real fell 1.4% against the ...