CBOT soybeans finish higher on fund buying

CHICAGO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed stronger on Monday on fund buying at the start of the year, traders said.

• Broad-based buying helped support gains, with equities, metals and oil markets also advancing, traders said.

• Traders were watching for confirmation of further Chinese demand for U.S. soybeans.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported total U.S. soybean export sales were about 1.2 million metric tons for 2025-26 and 66,400 metric tons for 2026-27 in the week that ended on December 25.

• Of those sales, China bought 396,419 metric tons for 2025-26 and 66,000 metric tons for 2026-27.

• In Brazil, the world's biggest soybean supplier, production is expected to reach a record 177.6 million metric tons in 2025-26, StoneX said.

• CBOT March soybeans SH26 closed 16-1/4 cents higher at $10.62 a bushel. On Friday, the most-active contract Sv1 declined to the lowest point since October 23.

• CBOT March soymeal SMH26 ended $3.90 higher at $299.90 per short ton.

• CBOT March soyoil BOH26 ended 0.57 cent higher at 49.87 cents per pound.