DTN Closing Grain Comments    04/25 13:50
   US Grains Finish Week With Muted Friday Trade

   Agricultural markets were mixed across the board on Friday with no sizeable
price shifts to speak of as trading volumes relaxed into the weekend. Corn
futures inched higher following Thursday's technical rally, while soybeans and
soybean oil prices eased back following strong sessions on Thursday. Wheat
markets appear to have found support for the time being near contract lows, but
wheat traders are keeping their fingers close to the sell button, so far not
seeing any convincing developments to break out of their bearish bias. Outside
markets were also quiet for Friday, with stock indices mixed, with the Dow
Jones Industrial Average down but rallying off daily lows which were set
following a low Consumer Confidence reading from the University of Michigan
Friday morning. There remains an undertone of optimism behind the markets to
finish the week, following positive trade-related reports, including rumors
that the U.S. and Japan are close to a deal, which -- given Japan's importance
to the U.S. as an agricultural customer -- has great potential to include
purchases of U.S. grains as a part of any agreement.

Rhett Montgomery
DTN Lead Analyst

GENERAL COMMENTS:

   July corn closed up 1 1/2 cents and December corn was down 3/4 cents. July
soybeans closed down 2 3/4 cents and November soybeans were down 1/2 cents.
July KC wheat closed up 1/4 cents, July Chicago wheat was up 1/2 cents, July
Minneapolis wheat was down 1 1/2 cents.