US Plains HRW Wheat-Basis bids steady as futures firm

CHICAGO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat were unchanged in the U.S. southern Plains on Thursday, a spot check showed, as futures strengthened.

* K.C. HRW March wheat futures KWH25 closed up 7-3/4 cents at $5.51-1/2 a bushel.

* Protein premiums for HRW wheat shipped by rail to or through Kansas City were unchanged on Thursday for all grades of wheat. KCBT/SCA

* Dealers said farmer selling is expected to remain light into the new year.

Basis values are quoted against futures in cts/bu:

NOTES:

H = March, K = May, N = July, U = September

Z = December; UNQ = Unquoted bids

0 = Sp Option price; NC = No comparison

* = No. 1 12% hard winter wheat, rail bids

** = Ordinary protein, rail bids

LINKS:

* K.C. HRW wheat protein scales KCBT/SCA

* U.S. weekly wheat crop progress US/WHE

* U.S. forward basis WHEAT/BASIS

* U.S. Midwest cash grain PM GRA/PM

* U.S. CIF Gulf Grain GRA/C

* U.S. FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F

(Reporting by Renee Hickman; Editing by Leslie Adler)

((renee.hickman@thomsonreuters.com))