CHICAGO, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Soybean futures in Chicago Board of Trade hit a new 7-month high on Thursday due to strong demand and lower ending stocks. Corn and wheat ended higher, too.

    Soybean future for July delivery gained 19.5 cents and closed at 11.475 U.S. dollars per bushel after it touched as high as 11.48 dollars, the highest level since last September.

    July corn rose 1.75 cent, closing at 4.2825 dollars a bushel. July wheat was up 4.5 cents, settled on 5.9325 dollars per bushel.

    The USDA supply and demand report, which lowered soybean ending stocks for 2008/09 to 130 million bushels, was still bullish to soybean.

    The U.S. National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) crush report released on Thursday was also considered supportive with the April crush estimated at 134.115 million bushels.

    International demand is very strong with net export sales for soybeans pegged at 754,900 tons, near high limit of traders' estimation. Meanwhile, the USDA announced a sale of 120,000 tones of U.S. soybeans to China on Thursday morning, confirming recent trade rumors of fresh demand.

    Heavy rain swept east Corn Belt from Wednesday to Thursday, further delaying corn planting in Illinois and Indiana where respectively only 10 percent and 11 percent corns have been planted as of May 10. Forecasts said more rainfalls are expected on Friday and Saturday, 50 percent coverage in the western Corn Belt and 70 percent coverage in the east.

    Net weekly export sales for corn were 1,182,800 tones, well above traders' expectations.

    Analysts indicated soy's rally provided some spillover support to wheat.

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