CBOT corn ends above $5 per bushel in most-active contract

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures finished above $5 a bushel in the most-active contract Cv1 on Tuesday after U.S. export demand pushed prices to their highest level since October 2023, analysts said.

• CBOT March corn CH25 rose 5-3/4 cents to end at $5.02 per bushel.

• U.S. export demand has remained strong in the face of increasing prices, analysts said.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 1.6 million metric tons of corn were inspected for export last week, beating analysts' estimates for 975,000 to 1.4 million metric tons.

• Fund buying helped support higher prices, which triggered selling by farmers, a broker said.

• In Argentina, weekend rains prevented further losses in corn and soybean that struggled with hot, dry weather last month, the Rosario grains exchange said.