GRAINS-Chicago corn and soybeans steady after fall with Trump-Xi call in focus

PARIS/BEIJING, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean and corn futures edged up on Friday, steadying after a two-day drop as traders awaited a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to gauge progress towards resolving a trade standoff.

Wheat was almost unchanged as it also consolidated following a two-day decline.

All three crops hit multi-week highs earlier this week, supported by brisk exports, doubts over U.S. harvest yields and hopes that the Trump-Xi call later on Friday could help end a freeze in soybean shipments between the two countries.

But large global supplies hung over the markets, while a rebound in the dollar =USD since a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut on Wednesday also curbed dollar-priced commodities. FRX/

"Grains continue to lack clear direction as markets weigh a mix of conflicting factors: wide swings in the dollar ... ongoing debate over final U.S. corn and soybean yields ... and the absence of Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans, offset by lingering hopes of a potential trade deal," CM Navigator analyst Donatas Jankauskas said.

The most active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Sv1 was up 0.3% by 1126 GMT at $10.41 per bushel.

CBOT corn Cv1 gained 0.3% to $4.25 a bushel while CBOT wheat Wv1 inched down 0.1% to $5.23-1/2 a bushel.

Market participants were also seeking more clarity on U.S. soybean and corn harvest sizes, with some expecting the United States Department of Agriculture to trim further its national yield estimates for both crops after recent dry weather.

However, a bumper U.S. corn crop is still expected, which will expand global supply after record estimated Brazilian output this year.

"Corn is starting to see U.S. harvest pressure, so any consolidation is unlikely to last, and there is a real risk it will drag wheat and soybeans down with it as harvest progresses," said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at IKON Commodities in Sydney.

U.S. producers are harvesting across much of the corn belt this week, with only scattered rain delays.

In wheat, the International Grains Council on Thursday raised its forecast for 2025/26 global wheat production by 8 million metric tons, to 819 million tons.