CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended
 Thursday's session to the upside, underpinned by weather related crop concerns
 attributed to heat and dryness rebuilding in the Midwest during the next week.
  
   August soybeans ended 10 1/2 cents higher at $6.84 1/4 a bushel, November
 soybeans ended 11 3/4 cents higher at $6.98 1/4, August soymeal settled $2.30
 higher at $215.80 a short ton, and August soyoil ended 19 points higher at
 24.50 cent a pound. 
  
   Soybeans are a crop of August, and with yields adversely affected by heat and
 dryness, traders took the opportunity to add risk premium amid extended
 forecasts calling for warmer temperatures and limited rain potential in the
 Midwest over the next 10-days, said a CBOT commission house broker. 
  
   Futures spiked higher from the outset, with technically motivated speculative
 buying adding to the bullish theme. However, the absence of follow through
 momentum, with speculative fund activity taking a back seat after the first
 hour of trading, attracted local selling to trim advances. 
  
   Nevertheless, futures managed to sustain a firm tone throughout the day, with
 the uncertainty of weather the driving force to keep prices supported as the
 soybean crop moves into its critical yield development stage, analysts said. 
  
   The market remains worried about new crop production with a tight projected
 2005-06 balance sheet, and until we see some fundamental change in weather,
 futures will remain on edge, said Jack Scoville, analyst with the Price Group
 in Chicago. 
  
   Otherwise, futures had few fundamental influences to direct prices, with a
 seasonal lull in export demand and a census crush figure coming in as expected
 failing to impact prices, traders said. 
  
   Friday is first notice day for the August contract, with most analysts
 expecting light to moderate delivery notices to be posted against the nearby
 future. 
  
   In pit trades, Calyon Financial, RJ O'Brien and Refco each bought 500
 November, Man Financial bought 600 November, and Tenco bought 400 November. ADM
 Investor Services and Refco each sold 300 November, and Cargill sold 500
 November. 
  
   South American soybean futures ended higher across the board. The August
 contract settled 14 3/4 cents higher at $7.03 1/2 and the November futures
 settled 17 1/4 cents higher at $7.21 1/4. 
  
  
 SOY PRODUCTS 
  
  
   Soyproduct futures climbed along with soybeans, but both markets finished
 well off their highs as local selling the absence of any significant
 speculative buying after midday kept futures hovering within a range heading
 down the stretch. 
  
   Soymeal did manage to gain at the expense of soyoil, with higher than
 expected weekly export sales and a census stock figure well below the average
 trade estimate supporting prices. 
  
   Looking ahead to deliveries, analysts anticipate zero delivery notices to be
 posted against the August soymeal future, with soyoil deliveries limited as
 well. 
  
   August oil share ended at 36.21%, and the August crush finished at 60 cent. 
  
   In soymeal trades, Bunge Chicago bought 200 August and Refco bought 200
 December. ABN Amro sold 300 August and Prudential Financial sold 200 December,
 with Merrill Lynch and Refco light sellers. 
  
   In soyoil trades, Calyon Financial bought 500 December, Fimat bought 400
 December and RJ O'Brien bought 300 December. Cargill sold 200 December, ABN
 Amro sold 200 August and Man Financial was a light seller of December.