CBOT corn ends higher on technical buying, export demand

CHICAGO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures closed higher on Thursday on chart-based buying, firm cash markets and reminders of brisk export demand for U.S. supplies, brokers said.

• CBOT March corn CH26 settled up 3-3/4 cents at $4.47-1/4 per bushel, bouncing after a dip to $4.41-3/4, a one-week low.

• The March contract held above chart support at its 50-day moving average near $4.41.

• Under its daily reporting rules, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed private sales of 392,500 metric tons of U.S. corn to Mexico and another 100,800 tons to Colombia.

• In a backdated weekly report, the USDA reported net export sales of U.S. corn in the week ended October 30 at 1,995,000 metric tons for shipment in the 2025/26 marketing year, in line with analyst estimates for 800,000 to 2.5 million tons.

• Cold temperatures in the U.S. Midwest this week have slowed the movement of grain in some areas, including on rivers that serve Gulf export terminals, underpinning cash values.

• Market players are starting to adjust positions ahead of the USDA's December 9 monthly supply/demand report.