Fall in the euro supports EU wheat

PARIS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - European wheat rose on Friday, helped by a fall in the euro making European grains more competitive on the world market while traders continued to focus on the situation in the Black Sea and strong shipments out of France.

Benchmark December milling wheat on Paris-based Euronext, closed the daily session 0.9% higher at €225.00 ($250.88) a metric ton. Further deliveries were slightly lower.

One trader pointed to fund buying to explain the rise in the contract spread.

The US dollar jumped on Friday and was on pace for its biggest daily percentage gain in seven weeks as it extended gains after a stronger-than-expected US payrolls report. FRX/

Euronext said on Friday it will launch Black Sea wheat and corn futures next year with physical delivery to the port of Constanta in Romania to expand its European grain business, which has historically been tied to France.

The exchange has long sought ways to reflect rising Black Sea grain trade, including previous plans to add delivery in Romania to its existing French-based corn contract .

French farmers had sown 84% of this year's soft wheat crop by November 2, up from 62% a week earlier and 77% a year ago, farm office FranceAgriMer said on Friday.

This year's French grain maize harvest was now over, compared with 99% complete a week earlier, the farm office said.

World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6% higher than a year earlier, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

FAO's cereal price index fell 4.5% from September and was 12.6% lower than a year ago, as wheat and maize quotations declined. Wheat prices eased on weak import demand and improved production prospects, especially in Argentina, it said.