CANBERRA, April 18 (Reuters) - Chicago wheat futures rose on Thursday, recouping some of their losses from the previous session, as the U.S. dollar weakened and an exchange in Argentina said less of the crop would be planted there than previously thought.

Still, Chicago wheat remains close to its lowest levels since 2020 due to ample supply from top shipper Russia and lacklustre demand for U.S. exports.

Corn and soybean futures were flat, with both markets well-supplied despite rising concerns over Argentina's corn harvest, which has been hit by a stunt disease spread by leafhopper insects.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) was up 0.4% at $5.54-1/2 a bushel, as of 0050 GMT, but fell 2.2% on Wednesday and is near a four-year low of $5.24 reached in March.

* CBOT soybeans fell 0.1% to $11.63-1/4 a bushel and corn was flat at $4.30-1/4 a bushel. Both contracts are hovering near four-year lows hit in February.

* The dollar slipped from Tuesday's 5-1/2-month high, but its strengthening in recent months has nevertheless made U.S. exports less attractive to global buyers with other currencies.

* U.S. wheat export inspections this marketing year are running well behind the pace of the previous season.

* Wary of a La Nina weather event and drought, Argentine farmers are likely to plant 5.9 million hectares with wheat in the 2024/25 season, well below the average of the last five years, the Buenos Aires grain exchange said.

* The global wheat market, however, is in surplus and the International Grains Council forecasts a rise in world production during the 2024-2025 marketing season.

* Traders were monitoring dry conditions in the southern U.S. Plains and parts of Russia, but forecasts predicted rain in parts of both regions.

* Low wheat prices mean profit is growing further out of reach for U.S. farmers and many do not expect to break even in 2024.

* Farm office FranceAgriMer lowered its forecast for French soft wheat exports outside the European Union in 2023/24 to 10.00 million metric tons from 10.15 million.

* In corn markets, the harvest estimates for Argentina, the world's No. 3 exporter, are likely to be cut even further due to a stunt disease, a Rosario grains exchange analyst said.

* The exchange slashed its forecast by 6.5 million tons to 50.5 million tons last week and the USDA has also cut its estimate by 6 million tons to 51 million tons.

* Commodity funds were net buyers of CBOT soybean, soymeal and soyoil futures contracts on Wednesday and net sellers of wheat and corn, traders said.

MARKETS NEWS

* U.S. stock markets closed lower on Wednesday as crude prices tumbled and investors weighed cautious U.S. Federal Reserve commentary and ongoing geopolitical strife against mixed quarterly earnings.

(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)