Corn Futures Ease

Energy prices were on the rise Wednesday after the latest inventory data from the U.S. government, but metals were mixed.

Crude for May delivery was up 16 cents at $62.05 a barrel in New York. Natural gas was gaining 3 cents at $7.90 per million British thermal units.

Reformulated gasoline was adding 3 cents at $2.16 a gallon, and heating oil was up 2 cents at $1.88 a gallon. Earlier, the Energy Department said gasoline stores fell by 5.5 million barrels last week. Crude stocks had a 700,000 barrel increase.

Elsewhere, gold eased 70 cents to $680.80 an ounce, and silver was down 10 cents at $13.83 an ounce. Copper rose 5 cents to $3.57 a pound. July platinum tacked on $1.40 to $1,275 an ounce.

Cocoa, coffee, cotton and sugar were stronger, but frozen concentrated orange juice futures declined.

Among agricultural products traded in Chicago, corn and rough rice slipped, while soybeans and oats were gaining ground.

The CRB Index was edging higher by 1 point at 317.

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