Investing.com - U.S. corn futures fell to the lowest level in four years on Friday, as ongoing expectations for a record U.S. harvest continued to weigh.
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, U.S. corn for September delivery hit a daily low of $3.5140 a bushel, the weakest level since July 7, 2010, before coming off the lows to end the week at $3.6300 by close of trade, down 1.26%, or 4.4 cents.
On the week, the September corn contract lost 2.92%, or 10.6 cents, the sixth consecutive weekly decline, as near-ideal crop weather in the U.S. Midwest bolstered expectations for a big harvest this autumn.
Elsewhere on the Chicago Board of Trade, U.S. soybeans for September delivery tumbled 2.39%, or 26.2 cents, on Friday to settle the week at $10.7340 a bushel by close of trade.
On the week, the September soybean contract slumped 4.31%, or 48.35 cents.
Prices of the oilseed slumped to a 45-month low of $10.5500 a bushel on July 23 as indications of ample global supplies drove prices lower.
Meanwhile, U.S. wheat for September delivery tacked on 0.75%, or 4.0 cents, on Friday to end the week at $5.3420 a bushel.
Despite Friday’s gains, the September wheat contract still declined 0.7%, or 3.8 cents, on the week.
Wheat prices fell to $5.1840 a bushel on July 29, the lowest since July 2010, as harvest progress in the northern hemisphere underlined the view of ample global supplies.
In the week ahead, market players will focus on the release of key USDA data, including crop progress and weekly export sales figures.
Corn is the biggest U.S. crop, followed by soybeans, government figures show. Wheat was fourth, behind hay.