GRAINS-Corn falls, losses checked by concerns over maturity of U.S. crop
SYDNEY, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. corn fell for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday, although losses were checked by data pegging the maturity of the crop in several key states behind average pace, leaving them vulnerable to adverse weather. FUNDAMENTALS * The most active corn futures on the Chicago Board Of Trade were down 0.1 percent to $3.57 a bushel by 0102 GMT, having gained 0.2 percent in the previous session. * The most active soybean futures were little changed at $9.59-3/4 a bushel after closing down 0.2 percent on Monday. * The most active wheat futures were down 0.1 percent to $4.34-1/4 a bushel, having closed down 0.7 percent on Monday when prices hit a low of $4.31-1/2 a bushel - the lowest since Aug. 31. * The USDA in a weekly report said the U.S. corn harvest was 5 percent harvested, near the five-year average of 6 percent and ahead of the average trade estimate of 4 percent. But crop maturity lagged in key states. * In Iowa, the top U.S. corn producer, USDA said 15 percent of the crop was mature, below the five-year average of 28 percent. The corn crop in the No. 2 producer, Illinois, was 26 percent mature, compared to the five-year average of 41 percent. * The Australian government lowered its estimate of the country's 2017/18 wheat crop to 21.64 million tonnes, an eight-year low, from a March forecast of 23.98 million. MARKET NEWS * The dollar held to large gains on Tuesday following a sharp rebound against the yen and euro, lifted by improving investor risk sentiment as worries over North Korea and Hurricane Irma receded. * Oil prices rose on Monday as key U.S. refineries began restarts following Hurricane Harvey, which may help revive crude oil processing, while fuel prices fell as Hurricane Irma is likely to clip demand for gasoline and diesel. * The S&P 500 surged over 1 percent to a record high close on Monday as tropical storm Irma caused less damage than expected in Florida, and after North Korea did not test-fire missiles over the weekend, which some had feared DATA AHEAD (GMT) 0830 Britain Consumer prices Aug 1000 U.S. NFIB business optimism Aug Grains prices at 0102 GMT Contract Last Change Pct chg Two-day chg MA 30 RSI CBOT wheat 434.25 -0.50 -0.12% -0.80% 451.48 44 CBOT corn 357.00 -0.50 -0.14% +0.07% 365.03 54 CBOT soy 959.75 -0.25 -0.03% -0.23% 950.86 55 CBOT rice 12.65 -$0.01 -0.04% -0.55% $12.63 47 WTI crude 48.04 -$0.03 -0.06% +1.18% $48.10 51 Currencies Euro/dlr $1.195 $0.000 -0.03% -0.71% USD/AUD 0.8013 -0.001 -0.19% -0.56% Most active contracts Wheat, corn and soy US cents/bushel. Rice: USD per hundredweight RSI 14, exponential (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Richard Pullin)
