CBOT soybeans end higher on corn strength; brisk US crush pace

CHICAGO, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed higher on Friday on spillover strength from corn and wheat as well as reminders this week of a robust U.S. soy crushing pace, traders said.

• CBOT March soybeans SH26 settled up 4-3/4 cents, or 0.45%, at $10.57-3/4 per bushel.

• CBOT March soymeal SMH26 closed on up 80 cents, or 0.28%, at $290.00 per short ton.

• CBOT March soyoil BOH26 bucked the firm trend and declined, settling down 0.36 cent, or 0.68%, at 52.61 cents per pound on a round of profit-taking after Thursday's 3.9% surge.

• Traders were digesting monthly crush data released on Thursday by the National Oilseed Processors Association, which reported the second-highest monthly crush volume on record for December.

• Expectations of a large Brazilian soybean crop continue to hang over the market, capping rallies. Consultancy Safras & Mercado raised its forecast of Brazil's 2025/26 soybean harvest to 179.28 million metric tons, up from its previous projection of 178.76 million tons.

• Canadian canola futures, meanwhile, touched a six-week high after Ottawa announced a trade deal with Beijing that will cut Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola.

• U.S. markets and most government offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.