CBOT wheat ends down as concerns ease over cold US weather

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures settled lower on Thursday as concerns eased among traders about the risk for damage to U.S. crops from frigid weather, analysts said.

• Most of the US winter wheat crop has an adequate layer of snow to protect it from icy temperatures, according to a daily US Department of Agriculture weather report.

• Temperatures are also expected to rise in the coming days after a cold spell, traders said.

• The International Grains Council raised its outlook for the world's 2024/25 wheat harvest by 1 million tons to 797 million tons.

• CBOT March soft red winter wheat WH25 dipped 6-1/2 cents to close at $5.85-1/2 per bushel. The market pulled back after the most-active contract Wv1 touched an eight-month high on Wednesday.

• K.C. March hard red winter wheat KWH25 ended 6-1/4 cents lower at $6.07-1/2 per bushel, and Minneapolis March spring wheat MWEH25 slipped 3/4-cent to $6.32-3/4 per bushel.

• Agricultural lender CoBank projected US 2025 plantings of spring wheat other than durum at 10.0 million acres, down 5.9% from 10.63 million in 2024.