CHICAGO- Chicago wheat futures fell sharply on Friday as rains were expected to benefit global wheat-growing regions, analysts said.
A shift in Russian export policies also fueled concerns that US commercial grain companies will be left holding large supplies of wheat.
Corn and soybean futures followed wheat lower but were underpinned by strong demand, analysts said. Weak crude oil prices contributed to a negative tone for the markets.
The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade settled down 16-3/4 cents at $5.72-3/4 a bushel and fell 4.4 percent for the week.
CBOT corn settled down 2 cents at $4.04-3/4 a bushel, dropping 2.65 percent for the week.
CBOT soybeans lost 18-3/4 cents to $9.70 a bushel and fell 3.5 percent for the week.
The return of rain to parched wheat zones in southern Russia and the central United States have tempered concerns about dryness hampering plantings, though drought was still seen as a risk.
