Markets were quietly steady overnight in light trading volume. They then started higher this morning on the heels of several export sales announcements, including the following:

257,000 MT of soybeans to China 126,000 MT of soybeans to unknown 134,000 MT of corn to Costa Rica 130,000 MT of soft red winter wheat to unknown

The driest parts of southern Brazil and Argentina still appear to be in for some rains over the next week or so. Temperatures in the dry areas, however, will soar again this weekend. Weather in those two countries is still about the only near-term factor that could have a positive influence on prices. Trading volume was very light early, but closing volumes were close to average. U.S. equity markets had another b...