US rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed mostly higher on Thursday, with the bellwether March contract up nearly 3 percent in a technical bounce after sharp declines this week, traders said. March rice rose 39 cents, 2.89 percent, to end at $13.88 per hundredweight, after falling to $13.40-1/2, the lowest spot price on a continuous chart since October 26.

Back months finished up 40-1/2 cents to down 10 cents. CBOT estimated volume at 2,675 rice futures and 85 options. FAO ups 2009 world paddy rice view to 678 million tonnes. Twenty-four exporters bid for Thai government rice. Indonesia to release 300,000 tonnes rice stock this week.

Copyright Reuters, 2010