CBOT soybeans fall on profit-taking as market awaits trade news

CHICAGO, April 17 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell as traders booked profits ahead of the long Easter weekend while dealers continued to await news about possible trade talks between China and the U.S., traders said.

• CBOT May soybeans SK25 settled down 2-1/4 cents to $10.36-1/2 per bushel.

• CBOT May soymeal SMK25 settled down $1.1 to $295.6 per short ton.

• CBOT May soyoil BOK25 finished up 0.39 cent to 47.87 cents per pound.

• Optimism in the market following a Bloomberg report on Wednesday stating that the Chinese government would be open to trade talks has since petered out as traders have remained on guard against bearish trade news from Washington or Beijing.

• Analysts said much of the impact of the trade war has already been factored into prices, turning market attention to other factors.

• Rains will stall Midwest seedings through the weekend, Commodity Weather Group said.

• USDA reported weekly U.S. soybean export sales of 554,800 metric tons for 2024-25, within expectations. Of that total, sales to top-importer China were 72,791 metric tons.