MADRID - European wheat edged higher on Thursday in step with other commodities due to broad-based optimism after an overnight deal to tackle the euro zone debt crisis but export-punishing strength by the common currency kept a lid on prices, traders said.
* "It’s a limited increase, we are not even rising to yesterday’s highs," a trader said in France, Europe’s biggest wheat producer, adding that players awaited the opening of U.S. markets to see if Chicago wheat futures would maintain strong gains in Asian trade.
* By 1121 GMT, benchmark January milling wheat futures were 0.54 percent higher in Paris at 184.75 euros ($255.32)a tonne after 1,746 lots had changed hands.
* A cheaper dollar meanwhile helped drive U.S. November wheat up 2.5 percent, while maize rebounded from its biggest drop in a month.
* The euro hit a seven-week high against the dollar on Thursday and riskier currencies rallied, boosted by a deal to tackle the euro zone debt crisis that provided relief to sceptical investors and prompted an unwinding of bearish positions.
* However, some grain traders were wary of the long-term impact of the euro zone deal on their markets.
* "Its a minimal deal, a consolidation by public funds," one said.
* Traders noted wheat prices were still weak on the cash market and premiums over Paris futures benchmarks were decreasing, under pressure from a lack of export demand due to a lack of competitiveness of French wheat on world markets.
SPAIN
* Physical wheat in major buyer Spain has rebounded to line up with recent gains on the Paris futures market, although dealers said volatility and the country’s gloomy economic prospects continued to depress the market.
* Prompt feed wheat was quoted at 201-204 euros/tonne in Tarragona , Spain’s leading entry point for grain, up 6-7 euros from Monday.
* "The market is dull and activity is slow, and looks like staying that way for the rest of the year. Buyers are wary because they don’t know if prices will fall, and are living hand-to mouth," a trader said.
* Imports have slowed since a flood of Ukrainian maize landed in September under a special quota not due to be renewed until January.
* Feed wheat cargoes have been reported mainly from EU members Romania and Bulgaria, but also from Denmark.
GERMANY
* In the EU’s second-largest wheat producer Germany, prices were boosted by the rise in Paris and the recovery in other markets after the euro zone debt meeting on Wednesday.
* Standard new crop bread-quality wheat for January and later delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale up one euro at 192 euros a tonne with buyers at 189.50 euros.
* "We are seeing a recovery in external markets such as equities today which is supporting the grains sector," one German trader said.
* "I think the rise in the euro and the increasing export competition shown by the Egyptian tender yesterday is limiting gains."
* GASC bought 120,000 tonnes of Russian wheat on Wednesday, with aggressive offers from Ukraine after Ukrainian wheat was allowed back into GASC tenders.
* "EU wheat does not have much hope in such tenders at the moment and the rise of the euro above $1.40 today will also make exports more difficult," the trader said.
* Traders added they believed many German farmers had made large sales of their wheat from the summer 2011 crop. This was likely to keep trade restrained in coming weeks while farmers were busy with winter plantings and harvesting maize.
*Prices at 1140 GMT
Product Last Change Pct Move End 2010 Ytd Pct
Paris wheat 184.25 0.50 +0.27 252.50 -27.03
Paris maize 190.25 1.50 +0.79 235.00 -19.04
Paris rape 449.75 6.25 +1.41 497.25 -9.55
CBOT wheat 634.75 15.25 +2.46 794.25 -20.08
CBOT corn 648.00 10.75 +1.69 629.00 3.02
CBOT soybeans 1232.25 21.75 +1.80 1393.75 -11.59
Crude oil 111.07 2.16 +1.98 91.38 21.55
Euro/dlr 1.40 0.03 +1.98 1.34 4.86
* Paris futures prices in Euros per tonne, London wheat in
pounds per tonne and CBOT in cents per bushel.
($1 = 0.724 Euros)
