South African maize futures ended mixed on Thursday after a volatile session.
The March 2012 white maize contract slid R58 to R2,330 per ton, the May 2012 white maize lost R16 to R2,189 per ton, the July 2012 white maize shed R1 to R2,030 per ton, according to preliminary I-Net Bridge data.
The March 2012 yellow maize contract dived R40 to R2,418 per ton, the May 2012 yellow maize contract gained R2 to R2,156 per ton and the July 2012 yellow maize contract lifted R6.60 to R1,988.60 per ton.
The March wheat contract edged up R10 to R2,784 per ton, while May wheat lifted R6 to R2,836 per ton, and the July 2012 wheat contract picked up R9 to R2,873 per ton.
Meanwhile, Dow Jones Newswires reported that the US soybean futures extended their recent rally on Wednesday, ending higher on rising export demand and increasing worries about Brazil's crop.
The market climbed to a fresh four-month high before trimming gains on pressure from corn and wheat prices.
Chicago Board of Trade soybeans for March delivery ended up six cents at US$12.61 per bushel. Soybean prices are up 2.7% since February 9.
CBOT corn, meanwhile, stumbled during the session, with the March contract falling 6 1/2 cents to $6.27 per bushel. CBOT March wheat ended down nine cents to $6.26 per bushel. Both markets hit three-week lows. - I-Net Bridge