CBOT wheat slumps on tariff fears, dollar strength

CHICAGO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures ended lower on Thursday as traders worried about the impact of possible new U.S. tariffs and the U.S. dollar gained steam, according to analysts.

• CBOT May soft red winter wheat WK25 settled down 7-1/4 cents at $5.62-1/2 per bushel, its lowest level since Feb. 4.

• K.C. May hard red winter wheat KWK25 ended down 13-1/4 cents at $5.85-1/4 a bushel and Minneapolis May spring wheat MWEK25 fell 13 cents to finish at $6.04-3/4 a bushel.

• Wheat futures were under pressure from confusion over the future of possible new U.S. tariffs on Mexican, Canadian and Chinese imports. U.S. President Donald Trump said the tariffs were on track to be implemented March 4, after saying on Wednesday they could begin in April.

• Investors fear tariffs would bring retaliation against U.S. agricultural exports by impacted countries.

• The dollar jumped on Thursday and was poised for its biggest daily percentage gain in more than two months as Trump's latest tariff comments overshadowed signs of slower economic growth.

• A strong U.S. dollar tends to make U.S. exports more expensive and less competitive to holders of other currencies.