June 1, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1424

CHICAGO, May 31: Chicago Board of Trade rough rice ended lower on Friday following weekly US rice export sales data and on speculative liquidation, floor brokers said.

CBOT rice futures settled down 6 to 12 cents per hundredweight, with July down 12 cents at $5.87, and September down 8 cents at $6.31 per cwt.

The US Department of Agriculture on Friday reported that US rice export shipments for the week ended May 22 totaled 36,900 tons 49pc below the previous week and 57pc below the prior 4-week average.

The major buyers were Mexico (12,100 tons), Jamaica (5,300 tons), Cuba (5,000 tons), Haiti (3,400 tons), and Nicaragua (3,000 tons).

Rough rice futures volume on Friday was estimated at 381 contracts, compared with the 349 lots traded on Thursday, and rice options trade was pegged at 34 contracts.—Reuters