CBOT closes higher

CHICAGO, March 18 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed higher Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade, bolstered by a equities and gold.

Corn was up 19 1/4 to up 37, soybeans were up 27 1/4 to up 29 3/4, wheat was up 12 3/4 to up 14 1/2 and oats were up 16 to up 17 1/4.

Follow-through on technical buying from yesterday's limit-up advance coupled with positive outside forces sent corn higher as traders speculated on a possible buy by China. Argentina released its first season estimate of 20.5 million tons of corn. Soybeans followed corn higher and found independent strength on talk of damage to the Brazilian crop from too much rain. Wheat moved higher on strong follow-through from Thursday's recovery bounce and forecasts for relatively dry weather in western Kansas.

The prices:

Corn: May 6.83 1/2 up 37, Jly 6.90 up 36 1/4, Sep 6.37 up 24, Dec 5.98 1/2 up 19 1/4.

Soybeans: May 13.62 1/2 up 27 1/4, Jly 13.71 1/2 up 28, Aug 13.67 1/4 up 27 1/2, Sep 13.50 3/4 up 29 3/4.

Wheat: 7.23 up 12 3/4, Jly 7.58 1/2 up 13 1/4, Sep 7.97 1/4 up 13 1/4, Dec 8.26 3/4 up 14 1/2.

Oats: May 3.52 up 17, Jly 3.60 1/2 up 17 1/4, Sep 3.67 up 16, Dec 3.78 up 17.