DTN Closing Grain Comments 02/18 13:46

DTN Closing Grain Comments 02/18 13:46 Volatile, Wide-Ranging Trade Continues Ahead of an Uncertain Long Weekend Grain and soy markets opened firmer Friday, led by soybeans and wheat, with March beans again flirting with the $16.00 level. New-crop November futures and spot bean oil futures rose to new contract highs. Wheat markets were very firm ahead of the long and uncertain holiday weekend, as the Russia-Ukraine saga continues with no hint of what's to come. Dana Mantini Senior Market Analyst GENERAL COMMENTS: March corn closed up 4 1/4 cents per bushel and December corn was up 1 1/4 cents. March soybeans closed up 9 1/2 cents and November soybeans were up 3 cents. March KC wheat closed up 12 1/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 1 cent and March Minneapolis wheat was up 3/4 cent. The March U.S. Dollar Index is trading up 0.237 at 96.040. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 83.18 points at 34,228.85. April gold is down $3.20 at $1,898.80, March silver is up $0.12 at $24.00 and March copper is up $0.0100 at $4.5330. March crude oil is down $0.41 at $91.35, April heating oil is up $0.0025, April RBOB is up $0.0132 and March natural gas is down $0.035.