Grains close mixed in Chicago

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CHICAGO, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Grain futures prices were mixed on the Chicago Board of Trade Monday on a light trading day.

Corn was 1 1/4 to off 1 3/4, soybeans were up 14 1/2 to up 16 and wheat was off 1 3/4 to off 2 1/2.

Early strength in the dollar held grains in check Monday. In the corn market, lighter-than-expected rain in Argentina was considered supportive of prices. Wheat futures moved slightly lower with the shipment pace at 57 percent of U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates, down from the five-year average of 65 percent. Conversely, soybean shipments are well ahead of the historic average at 75 percent of the USDA estimate compared with a five-year average of 57 percent.

The prices:

Corn: Mar 7.34 1/4 off 1 3/4, May 7.36 1/4 off 1 1/2, Jly 7.27 1/2 off 1 1/4, Sep 6.17 3/4 off 1 1/2.

Soybeans: Mar 14.88 3/4 up 14 1/2, May 14.80 1/4 up 14 3/4, Jly 14.70 1/2 up 15 1/4, Aug 14.42 up 16.

Wheat: Mar 7.63 off 2, May 7.70 3/4 off 2 1/2, Jly 7.76 off 2 1/4, Sep 7.87 1/2 off 1 3/4.