Grains mostly softer due to good rain

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"The nearby February and March white and yellow maize contracts closed firmer due to a shortage of stock and the weakness in the rand that underpinned prices‚" a local trader said.

"The maize July contracts closed lower after good local rains at the weekend and good rains expected this week and next week‚" he said.

"Wheat March and July contracts closed softer on lower Chicago Board of Trade figures‚" the trader said.

At 12.21am the rand was at R11.24 to the dollar from its previous close of R11.07.

By market close‚ the March 2014 white maize contract was up R56 at R3‚125 a ton‚ while the July 2014 white maize contract lost R80 to R2‚388 a ton and the September 2014 white maize contract was down R76 at R2‚420 a ton.

The March 2014 yellow maize contract gained R54 to R3‚000.00 a ton‚ while the July 2014 yellow maize contract was down R71 to R2‚298 a ton and September yellow maize lost R74 lower at R2‚332.00 a ton.

The March 2014 wheat contract lifted lost R6 to R3‚836 a ton and the July 2014 contract was down R3 at R3‚889 a ton.