SYDNEY  - U.S. soybean futures fell to a nine-day low on Thursday as forecasts for cooler weather across a major growing region calmed fears that hot, dry conditions could hurt yields.

FUNDAMENTALS

The most active soybean futures on the Chicago Board Of Trade were down 0.2% at $8.99 a bushel by 0054 GMT, not far off the session low of $8.96-1/2 a bushel - the lowest since July 9. Soybeans closed down 0.6% on Wednesday.

The most active corn futures on were down 0.5% at $4.39-1/2 a bushel, having closed flat in the previous session.

Corn prices hit a five-year high of $4.64-3/4 a bushel on Monday amid concerns about hot weather after a rain-plagued planting season.

The most active wheat futures were down 0.3% at $5.04 a bushel, having closed down 0.4% on Wednesday.

Grain complex under pressure as fears that crops could suffer from prolonged hot, dry weather ease.

Updated weather models call for temperatures to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°C) in much of the Midwest for a few days before easing.

MARKET NEWS

The dollar softened against most major currencies on Wednesday in step with lower U.S. bond yields and expectations the Federal Reserve would lower interest rates, reversing some of the prior day's gains tied to stronger-than-forecast retail sales data.

Oil futures fell more than 1% on Wednesday, extending a more than 3% drop in prices the previous session, after U.S. government data showed large builds in refined product stockpiles.

U.S. stock indexes fell on Wednesday as weak results from CSX Corp stoked concerns that the protracted trade war between the United States and China could hurt corporate earnings.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; editing by Richard Pullin)

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