1.   Chicago soybean futures closed higher Friday, bolstered by strong demand for soybean products, while corn futures advanced as export sales picked up.

2.   Earlier today, the U.K. food and drink industry said retailers will begin voluntary labeling of foods containing genetically modified corn and soybean products, beginning in January.

3.   Earlier studies have produced still unconfirmed indications that soybean products may be effective in preventing breast cancer, prostate cancer, coronary heart disease and osteporosis.

4.   Export demand has been stronger lately, as South American soybean products run low.

5.   Good crush numbers released Thursday, indicating strong demand for U.S. soybean products, provided some early support for beans.

6.   Harvest States Cooperative said its soybean processing plant caught fire and exploded early this morning, halting production of refined soybean products.

7.   However, continued demand for soybean products helped keep losses to a minimum.

8.   Importing nations buy the whole soybean and crush them domestically, instead of buying the tax-heavy soybean products from Brazil.

9.   Last September, however, the government lifted the taxes, leading to a surge in raw soybean exports and a drop in production of soybean products.

10.   Lower prices for processed soybean products contributed to the drop.