GRAINS-Wheat slips from two-month peak, pressured by war and demand risks

By Gus Trompiz and Enrico Dela Cruz

Sept 23 (Reuters) - U.S. and European wheat futures retreated on Friday from two-month highs hit in the previous session, as investors set the threat of an escalating conflict in Ukraine against the risk of an economic downturn that would dent demand.

Chicago corn and soybeans were also lower, joining a slide in commodity and equity markets as interest rate rises and the latest economic data fanned fears of a looming recession. MKTS/GLOB

The most-traded wheat contract Wv1 on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was down 1.9% at $8.93-1/2 a bushel. In Europe, December wheat BL2Z2 on Euronext was down 1.5% at 344.00 euros ($335.50) a tonne.

Both markets on Thursday reached their highest levels since July 11, after Moscow's moves to mobilise more troops and back referendums on joining Russia in occupied regions of Ukraine fuelled concern about further disruption to vital Black Sea grain trade.

However, rising estimates of what is expected to be a record Russian wheat harvest and ongoing grain shipments from Ukraine through a Black Sea corridor were tempering supply worries.

"Trade flows are not without disruption risk, but so long as ports and transit lanes are open for grains, then prices should generally stay contained," Citi analysts said in a note.

On Thursday, consultancy Sovecon raised its forecast for Russia's 2022 wheat crop by more than 5 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes.

The International Grains Council (IGC), meanwhile, increased its forecast for 2022/23 global wheat production, partly reflecting an upward revision for Russia.

But in a sign of uncertainty over Russia's export prospects, the IGC left projected Russian exports little changed, increasing instead significantly forecast stocks in the country.

CBOT corn Cv1 was down 1.8% at $6.76 a bushel while soybeans Sv1 shed 1.1% to $14.41 a bushel.

A surge in the dollar index .DXY to a new 20-year high curbed Chicago prices, adding to export concerns after lower than expected weekly volumes for corn, wheat and soybean overseas sales.

"Investors are nervous about rising rates, hawkish central banks, Russia, and the strong U.S. dollar," Peak Trading Research said in a commodities note.

Prices at 1205 GMT

Last

Change

Pct Move

End 2021

Ytd Pct Move

CBOT wheat Wv1

893.50

-17.25

-1.89

770.75

15.93

CBOT corn Cv1

676.00

-12.25

-1.78

593.25

13.95

CBOT soy Sv1

1441.00

-16.00

-1.10

1339.25

7.60

Paris wheat BL2c1

344.00

-5.25

-1.50

276.75

24.30

Paris maize EMAc1

337.25

-1.00

-0.30

226.00

49.23

Paris rape COMc1

597.25

-8.50

-1.40

754.00

-20.79

WTI crude oil CLc1

80.65

-2.84

-3.40

75.21

7.23

Euro/dlr EUR=

0.98

-0.01

-0.81

1.1368

-14.18

Most active contracts - Wheat, corn and soy US cents/bushel, Paris futures in euros per tonne

($1 = 1.0253 euros)

(Reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Enrico Dela Cruz in Manila; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

((gus.trompiz@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 52 18; Reuters Messaging: gus.trompiz.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

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