Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) grains futures closed higher on Thursday with soybean futures climbing nearly one percent, lifted by strong export demand and gains in soyoil prices.

Corn and wheat futures rallied late in the trading session on short-covering after prices for each earlier notched life-of-contract lows.

The most active corn contract for December delivery added 0.5 cent, or 0.14 percent, to 3.5625 dollars per bushel. December wheat delivery went up 4.5 cents, or 1.05 percent to 4.345 dollars per bushel. November soybeans rose by 8.5 cents, or 0.91 percent, to 9.465 dollars per bushel.

In the outside markets, the Brent crude oil market is 0.95 dollar per barrel lower, the U.S. dollar is lower, and the Dow Jones Industrials are 11 points lower.

Kluis Commodities broker Cory Bratland says the grain prices are really searching for some fresh new news to trade on.

CBOT brokers report that funds have sold 4,300 contracts of corn and 900 contracts of wheat, while buying 4,500 contracts of soybeans.