A mixed, mostly lower start is expected this am, up 3-4 in wheat, down 1-2 in corn and off 3-5 in beans. There wasn't much news this am until a minute ago when the USDA announced China bought 348,000 tonnes of US beans for the 2009-10 crop year, which started Sep 1. The $ is a little higher but not enough currently to impact the grains very much. The grains have normal trading hours tomorrow, the last day of the year.

Tomorrow is first notice day for Jan deliveries. We expect roughly 200-400 beans, 0 meal and 2000-2500 oil.

Brazil was mostly dry yesterday. Scattered rain is forecast in Parana state today and tomorrow with light, scattered rain forecast in Parana and Rio Grande this weekend into early next week. Light, scattered rain is predicted in Mato Grasso state today through early next week. Argentina had light rain in Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces the last 24 hours. More of the same is forecast in southern and eastern grain areas the next two days. A better chance for rain is forecast early next week. Overall, conditions remain very favorable in Brazil and Argentina, both of which are currently predicted by the USDA to harvest large crops, especially in beans, where both countries could set production records this season.