The CBOT soybean futures November contract settled at 1314.50, up 5.75 cents per bushel. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) soybean futures rose on Thursday, primarily driven by three factors: First, US soybean export demand remained robust, with the USDA reporting on the same day that private exporters sold 192,000 metric tons of new-crop soybeans to China, bringing cumulative sales to China since July 8 to 5.522 million metric tons. Second, concerns over production-area weather intensified, as the World Meteorological Organization warned that El Nio could develop into a super-strong event, and an Allendale survey projected US soybean yield at 52.6 bushels per acre, below the USDA's previous forecast of 52.7 bushels per acre. Third, rising crude oil prices boosted expectations for biofuel demand, with heightened tensions in the Middle East pushing oil prices higher and providing additional support to soybeans.