US Plains HRW Wheat-Basis bids steady as futures tick up, trade subdued

CHICAGO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat were unchanged in the U.S. Southern Plains on Friday, a spot check showed, as futures made gains.

*K.C. HRW March wheat futures KWH25 were up 3-1/2 cents at $5.55 a bushel near the close of trading.

* The USDA reported net weekly wheat export sales of 612,400 metric tons, above trade expectations for 250,000-600,000 metric tons, according to a Reuters poll.

* Dry conditions in the Southern Plains are expanding, threatening wheat crop development, according to Commodity Weather Group.

* Merchants said there was little farmer selling and trade was expected to stay quiet into the New Year.

Basis values are quoted against futures in cts/bu:

NOTES:

H = March, K = May, N = July, U = September

Z = December; UNQ = Unquoted bids

0 = Sp Option price; NC = No comparison

* = No. 1 12% hard winter wheat, rail bids

** = Ordinary protein, rail bids

LINKS:

* K.C. HRW wheat protein scales KCBT/SCA

* U.S. weekly wheat crop progress US/WHE

* U.S. forward basis WHEAT/BASIS

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

* U.S. CIF Gulf Grain GRA/C

* U.S. FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F

(Reporting by Renee Hickman; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

((renee.hickman@thomsonreuters.com))