CBOT wheat ends higher on short covering, China demand hopes

CHICAGO, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures rose for a third straight session on Tuesday and hit a three-month peak as hopes for purchases by China lifted the market and sparked short covering, traders said.

• CBOT December soft red winter wheat WZ25 settled up 6-3/4 cents at $5.50-1/4 per bushel after hitting its highest level since July 30 during the session. The contract held chart support at its 100-day moving average after breaking through the key technical level a day earlier.

• K.C. December hard red winter wheat KWZ25 last traded 4-1/2 cents higher at $5.36-1/4 a bushel while Minneapolis December spring wheat MWEZ25 fell 1-1/2 cents to finish at $5.57 a bushel.

• Unconfirmed reports that China was interested in buying spring wheat or white wheat from the United States have supported the market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has not confirmed any sales since a government shutdown has suspended reporting of export transactions.

• European wheat futures climbed to the highest level since September 1 on euro weakness and speculation of Chinese demand for U.S. supplies.