DTN Closing Grain Comments 02/20 13:56

DTN Closing Grain Comments 02/20 13:56 Soybeans Climb, Wheat and Corn Top Heavy on Thursday Soybean futures led the way higher Thursday as buyers stepped in near key, short-term support to lift prices back toward the upper bounds of the range that's been established over the past week. Meanwhile, corn futures were quietly higher and, for the most part, able to shake off negative influence from a toppy wheat market which again fell victim to risk-off trade as the frigid cold stretch through the Midwest is winding to a close by the weekend. Outside markets were of mixed influence on grain markets as minutes from the January FOMC meeting painted a more hawkish sentiment from the Fed. This had the U.S. Dollar Index breaking again to fresh lows from the move, dipping into levels not seen since early December. Meanwhile, stock indices were heavily lower, especially on the Dow Jones Industrial Average after higher-than-expected jobless claims Thursday morning. Rhett Montgomery DTN Lead Analyst GENERAL COMMENTS: March corn closed up 1/2 cents and May corn was up 1/2 cents. March soybeans closed up 13 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 14 3/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 6 1/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 6 1/2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 3/4 cents.