Wheat, Corn Futures Rise; Metals End Mixed

Wheat and corn futures rose sharply Friday, closing out a volatile week. Metals prices were mixed.

The actively traded May contract for wheat rose 13 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $6.0225 a bushel. May corn rose 9 cents, or 2 percent, to $4.635 a bushel. Soybeans increased 24 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $14.14 a bushel.

Wheat has been on a bumpy ride in recent weeks, as traders respond to concerns about transportation problems in Canada hindering that country’s crop from coming to market, waning demand from commercial buyers and the release of more wheat into the market by Argentina.

In metals trading, gold for April delivery edged down $10.20 to $1,321.60 an ounce, and March silver lost 11 cents to $21.20 an ounce. April platinum fell $6.60 to $1,446.80 an ounce.

March palladium rose $1.60 to $743.85 an ounce, and March copper edged up less than a cent to $3.24 a pound.