Chicago Board of Trade grain futures closed softer on Monday, December 29, with March corn down to ~US $4.42 ¾ per bushel (March contract) and the nearby May also weaker around $4.50 ¼, as traders squared positions in thin year-end trade and booked profits after recent gains. January soybean futures pulled back to about $10.49 ½, with March soybeans likewise softer near $10.63 ¼, pressured by ample global supplies and light demand news. Meanwhile, March CBOT wheat eased to roughly $5.12 per bushel, reflecting reduced risk appetite and continued supply comfort across major exporting regions. These moves came on generally lighter volume and elevated open interest dynamics, typical of holiday-adjusted markets approaching the calendar close.
The session’s risk-off tone suggests traders are digesting recent fundamental signals and positioning ahead of upcoming USDA reports and potential macro catalysts in early 2026. Corn’s retreat from recent highs points to profit-taking amid mixed export and weather cues, while soybeans remain sensitive to South American crop outlooks and product values. Wheat’s downshift, despite periodic geopolitical support headlines, underscores lingering concerns over global stocks and import pace. With year-end liquidity thin, price action may remain vulnerable to outsized moves on limited news flow — setting the stage for renewed direction once normal trading resumes in January.
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