CBOT soybeans end up as traders adjust positions before USDA data

CHICAGO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed slightly higher on Friday due to traders adjusting positions in the grain markets before the U.S. government releases highly anticipated U.S. crop reports next week, analysts said.

• Analysts on average expect the U.S. Department of Agriculture will slightly lower its estimates for the country's soybean production and yields in a report due out on Monday, according to a Reuters poll.

• The agency will also issue quarterly data on U.S. grain and soy stocks as of December 1.

• Some traders were unwinding long corn and short soybean positions ahead of the reports, a broker said.

• Exporters sold 198,000 metric tons of U.S. soybeans to unknown destinations, the USDA said in a daily reporting system, after it reported sales of 132,000 tons of U.S. soybeans to China on Thursday.

• China's Sinograin will auction 1.1 million metric tons of imported soybeans on January 13, its first sale of the year and the fourth since last month, as the state stockpiler works to make room for arriving U.S. shipments.

• CBOT March soybeans SH26 closed up 1-1/4 cents at $10.62-1/2 a bushel. For the week, the contract rose 1.6%.

• CBOT March soymeal SMH26 edged up $0.10 to end at $303.70 per short ton, and CBOT March soyoil BOH26 rose 0.24 cent to close at 49.69 cents per pound.