By Andrew Johnson Jr.
 
   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
 
 
   CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures ended mixed
 Thursday, chopping back and forth on Midwest weather and end-of-the-month
 positioning, analysts said.
 
   August soybeans settled 1 3/4 cents higher at $13.95 3/4 and November
 soybeans ended 1 cent lower at $14.04.
 
   December soymeal settled $0.70 lower at $375.50 per short ton. December
 soyoil finished 2 points higher at 59.50 cents per pound.
 
   The market struggled to sustain price direction over the course of the day,
 with stressful hot, dry forecasts for the U.S. Midwest through the weekend
 providing support, while outlooks for widespread appreciable rain next week
 applied pressure, said Tim Hannagan, analyst with Alaron Trading.
 
   The juggling of the forecasts attracted speculative buying on price dips, and
 profit-taking on rallies, he added.
 
   The market remained range bound, but with traders not convinced about next
 week's weather, volatile price action remained in place. The weather forecast
 can change quickly, so traders remain hesitant to take aggressive positions,
 particularly with the forecast expected to make a dramatic change from the
 weekend to midweek, analysts added.
 
   Meanwhile, constant pressure from the energy sector weighed on futures, while
 the ability of the market to hold chart support and news of Argentina looking
 to play around with its export tax again generated support as well, said John
 Kleist, broker/analyst with Allendale Inc.
 
   Otherwise, end-of-the-month position evening was featured, with prices
 holding near its recent sideways trading range, as traders await the August
 crop report and next weeks' weather for a clue on acreage and crop potential.
 
   The 2009 contracts remained firm, however, continuing to feed off the fact
 that additional CRP acres will not be available.
 
   The DTN Meteorlogix weather forecast said no persistent hot or dry weather is
 indicated during the next five days for the U.S. Midwest. A brief period of
 temperatures reaching the middle 90s Fahrenheit is possible over the weekend or
 early next week before scattered showers and thunderstorms and cooler
 temperatures return.
 
   In the next week, the Delta will experience above-normal to much above-normal
 temperatures, with below-normal rainfall continuing to stress developing
 soybeans, Meteorlogix added.
 
   In pit trades, buyers and sellers were scattered among various commission
 houses, with speculative fund buying estimated at 2,000 lots.
 
 SOY PRODUCTS
 
 
   Soy product futures ended in mixed fashion, moving in unison with the
 two-sided theme in soybeans. Soyoil futures ended narrowly mixed, managing to
 shake off spillover weakness from crude oil, influenced by soybeans and support
 usage for biodiesel reported in the Census stocks report, analysts said.
 
   Soymeal futures followed the lead of soybeans, losing some product share to
 soyoil on spreads.
 
   December oil share ended at 44.21% and the November/December crush ended at
 76 3/4 cents.
 
   In soymeal trades, buyers and sellers were scattered among various commission
 houses. Speculative buying was  estimated at 2,000 lots.
 
   In soyoil trades, buyers and sellers were scattered among various commission
 houses.