CBOT corn ends higher in technical trade as US harvest progresses

CHICAGO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures ended higher on Wednesday in range-bound trade, supported by technical buying and ideas that the U.S. harvest might be winding down, traders said.

• CBOT December corn CZ25 settled up 3-1/4 cents at $4.23 per bushel. The contract has been stuck in a trading range between roughly $4.09 and $4.25 per bushel all month.

• U.S. farmers have been slow to sell corn as they wrap up harvesting and store much of their grain to hold out for higher prices, analysts have said.

• Cash basis bids for corn rose in a few locations, including Decatur, Illinois, a processing hub.

• The U.S. Energy Information Administration said weekly production of corn-based ethanol increased in the latest week to 1.112 million barrels per day, the highest weekly tally since June, while stockpiles fell to 21.919 million barrels, the lowest level in a year. EIA/S

• Analysts surveyed by Reuters estimated export sales of U.S. corn in the week ended October 16 at 800,000 to 2,000,000 metric tons.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture normally publishes weekly export sales data every Thursday, but the agency has suspended reporting of the data due to a lapse in federal funding.