EU wheat holds firm as Black Sea worries linger

PARIS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Euronext wheat edged up on Tuesday as Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and forecasts of severe cold in Russia underpinned prices with traders also adjusting positions before the Christmas holiday, analysts said.

March wheat BL2H6, the most active contract on Paris-based Euronext, settled 0.4% up at 189 euros ($222.45) a metric ton, its highest in over a week.

The benchmark contract has been moving away from a contract low of 185 euros a ton struck last Wednesday, when bumper southern hemisphere harvests and tentative hopes about efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine dampened prices.

Since then, Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports have encouraged investors to cover short positions.

Strength in crude oil prices and weakness in the dollar =USD have also supported grain markets, though a firmer euro was limiting gains on Euronext.

"Macroeconomic and geopolitical factors are dominating at the start of this week, while new fundamental information on grains is scarce," Argus Media analysts said.

Forecasts of extreme cold in Russia from late December were also making traders cautious, though snow cover may limit any potential damage to crops.

Euronext will close early on Wednesday and remain shut on Thursday and Friday for the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays.

($1 = 0.8496 euros)