US Cash Grains-Corn basis steady to lower as futures firm slightly

CHICAGO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids for corn were steady to lower at elevators around the U.S. Midwest on Friday, and steady to higher at river terminals, a spot check showed, as futures traded flat to higher.

* The corn basis fell by 3 cents at an elevator in Cincinnati, Ohio. It fell by 1 cent at another elevator in Blair, Nebraska.

* The corn basis improved by 2 cents at a river terminal in Seneca, Illinois.

* The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported net weekly corn export sales of 1,711,300 metric tons, above trade expectations for 1,000,000-1,600,000 metric tons.

* The agency reported net weekly soybean export sales of 978,400 metric tons, below trade expectations for 1,000,000-1,800,000 metric tons.

* The soybean basis rolled onto the March contract in some locations.

* March corn futures CH25 gained 1/4 cent at $4.54 a bushel at 10:56 a.m. CST (1656 GMT).

* March soybean futures SH25 fell 6-1/4 cents to $9.91 a bushel.

NOTE: 0 = Option price, UNC = Unchanged, UNQ = Unquoted

NC = Not comparable, DP = Delayed price, N/A = Not available,

F = January, H = March, K = May, N = July
Q = August, U = September, X = November, Z = December

--------------------------------------------------------

LINKS: 0#USCSHGRN-PM

For U.S. forward basis spreadsheets, please click:

CORN/BASIS, SOYA/BASIS, WHEAT/BASIS, MILO/BASIS

- CBOT corn report COR/

- CBOT soybean report SOY/C

- CBOT wheat report WHE/C

- U.S. grain barge freight values BG/US

- U.S. Midwest cash grain PM GRA/PM

- U.S. CIF/FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F

(Reporting by Renee Hickman; Editing by Chris Reese)

((renee.hickman@thomsonreuters.com))