SYDNEY - U.S. soybean futures edged higher on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the harvest pace was lagging behind market expectations.   

FUNDAMENTALS 

* The most active soybean futures on the Chicago Board Of Trade were up 0.1 percent to $8.79-1/4 a bushel by 0131 GMT, having closed down 0.6 percent on Tuesday when prices hit a low of $8.77 a bushel.

* The most active corn futures were unchanged at $3.66-1/2 a bushel, having closed down 1.3 percent in the previous session when prices hit a low of $3.65-1/2 a bushel, the lowest since Nov. 2.

* The most active wheat futures were little changed at $5.07-1/2 a bushel, having closed down 2.3 percent on Tuesday.

* The USDA said 88 percent of the soybean harvest is complete and 84 percent of corn has been harvested, both lagging analysts' forecasts.            

MARKET NEWS 

* The euro and sterling climbed higher on Wednesday as investor confidence rose on news Britain had struck a draft divorce deal with the European Union after more than a year of talks. 

* Oil markets remained on a weak footing on Wednesday after a 7 percent slump the previous session, with surging supply and expectations of faltering demand pressuring crude prices.

* The Dow and S&P 500 ended slightly lower on Tuesday following losses in energy shares and Boeing, offsetting a small gain in technology stocks and renewed hopes for progress in trade talks.     

 (Reporting by Colin Packham)

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