CBOT soybean futures for May settled at 1171.00, down 2.50 cents per bushel. CBOT soybean futures fluctuated higher, mainly supported by strong export sales and firmer crude oil prices. The USDA weekly export sales report showed that for the week ending March 19, U.S. soybean net sales totaled 668,900 metric tonnes, up 124% significantly from the previous week, including 263,000 metric tonnes sold to China, with export shipments of 665,000 metric tonnes. However, the market is still awaiting guidance from the end-of-month Planting Intentions report and biofuel policy. The soybean main contract is expected to maintain range-bound trading within the 11601180 cent range in the short term.