CBOT corn futures firm on weather concerns

Chicago Board of Trade corn futures firmed on Friday as the market continues to closely watch weather in South America, on a short, relatively low-volume trading day, analysts said.

NOTE: The Chicago traded grain and oilseed markets closed at 12:05 p.m. Central time on Friday, due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

• CBOT December corn (CZ2) settled up 4-3/4 cents at $6.68 per bushel.

• Russia's ambassador to Turkey said on Friday that Moscow sends its representatives to more ship inspections in Istanbul per day than mandated under the Black Sea grain deal, rejecting a Ukrainian accusation that Russia is slowing down the process.

• Ukraine's grain exports have proceeded more slowly since a U.N.-brokered deal was extended last week to help ease global hunger, Reuters reported on Thursday.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported weekly U.S. corn export sales of 1.85 million tonnes for 2022/2023 in the week ended Nov. 17, within analysts' estimates for 1.7 million to 2.5 million tonnes. Sales of 628,100 tonnes for 2023/24 were toward the low end of expectations for 625,000 to 800,000 tonnes.