Wheat prices in Chicago were the weakest link in the agricultural complex yesterday and closed at a four month low. The variety of wheat on the world market and improved weather in the winter wheat regions of the United States led to selling pressure. The weekly U.S. export sales were 551.100 tons of U.S. wheat in line with market expectations of 350,000 750,000 tons. Institutional investors increased their holdings of net short positions to more than 9,000 lots CBoT SRW wheat. The electronic exchange of the night is today tomorrow slightly firmer. On Euronext Paris, the Weizenfutures was followed by the negative requirements from overseas and eased prices on all dates. Frost and dry weather in some parts of Europe, particularly in France, limit the downside potential. The higher exchange rate of the euro to the U.S. dollar reduces the competitiveness of wheat from the euro area export market. Standard wheat has a premium of 4.00 (money) and 6.00 (letter) with 12% protein for delivery in April in Hamburg. The demand in Northern Germany comes rather from the food sector as exporters and mills. Old transactions are settled in the ports, new business transactions be harder due to the stronger euro.
