CHICAGO: Chicago Board of Trade soyabean futures rose for the first time in seven sessions on Friday in a short-covering bounce from earlier three-month lows and ahead of the long Christmas holiday weekend.

Markets closed early on Friday and will remain closed on Monday for the holiday.

Benchmark January soyabeans ended 3/4 cent higher at $9.49-1/2 a bushel after earlier hitting a low of $9.46-1/2, the lowest for a most-active contract since mid-September. January futures were down 2.1 percent for the week, its third straight weekly decline.

Soyameal futures eased on Friday, while soyaoil edged higher.

A rebound in Malaysian palm oil futures following a 16-month low underpinned soyabeans and soyaoil.—Reuters