WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Jan 3 (Reuters) - ICE (NYSE:ICE) canola futures edged higher on Thursday, following strength in U.S. soy markets related to concerns about South America's soybean crop.
* Canola looked "directionless," with macroeconomic concerns about the U.S.-China trade dispute making investors cautious, a trader said.
* Rain and hail storms have slowed soybean harvesting in Argentina over the last week, washing out some fields and raising concerns that continued wet weather could put the 2018/19 crop at risk. Most-active March canola RSH9 gained 30 cents to $489.10 per tonne.
* ICE reported 35 deliveries of January canola, with the contract expiring on Jan. 14.
* March-May canola spread traded 1,686 times.
* Chicago March soybeans SH9 rose on hopes of Chinese demand and on South America weather worries. February Paris Matif rapeseed futures /COMG9 edged higher and Malaysian March palm oil futures /1FCPOH9 dipped.
* The Canadian dollar CAD= was trading at $1.3481 to the U.S. dollar, or 74.18 U.S. cents at 12:33 p.m. CST (1833 GMT).