* Corn near 1-week high on Chinese demand for U.S. supplies * Chicago soybeans, wheat ease (Adds quote, updates prices) By Naveen Thukral and Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, March 17 (Reuters) - Chicago corn futures gained for a fifth consecutive session on Wednesday as Chinese purchases of U.S. supplies underpinned the market. Wheat prices eased after rising for two straight sessions, while soybeans fell. "News of a hefty U.S. export sale to China was a plus," said Tobin Gorey, director of agricultural strategy, Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The most-active corn contract on the Chicago Board Of Trade (CBOT) was up 0.1% to $5.55 a bushel as of 1149 GMT, after gaining 0.9% on Tuesday. Soybeans were down 0.6% at $14.14-3/4 a bushel and wheat fell 0.7% to $6.42-1/4 a bushel. "Wheat prices were under pressure due to the improved crop rating and the possibility of the Russian government lifting its export tax rules," French consultancy Agritel said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday confirmed U.S. corn sales to China totalling 1.156 million tonnes, the highest since January. The sales came after the USDA on Monday reported one of the strongest weeks of corn export inspections on record. There could be more demand for corn imports as China faces a threat from armyworm, a pest that attacks corn among other crops. Pressure to prevent and control armyworm in China this year is significantly higher than last year, the country"s agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. Russia is prepared to stop interfering in the regulation of grain exports when the market stabilises, the Interfax news agency cited Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev as saying on Tuesday. Prices at 1149 GMT Last Change Pct End Ytd Move 2020 Pct Move CBOT wheat 642.25 -4.75 -0.73 640.50 0.27 CBOT corn 555.00 0.75 0.14 484.00 14.67 CBOT soy 1414.75 -8.50 -0.60 1311.00 7.91 Paris wheat 222.25 0.25 0.11 213.25 4.22 Paris maize 216.50 0.50 0.23 219.00 -1.14 Paris rapeseed 523.75 -2.00 -0.38 418.25 25.22 WTI crude oil 64.21 -0.59 -0.91 48.52 32.34 Euro/dlr 1.19 0.00 -0.03 1.2213 -2.60 Most active contracts - Wheat, corn and soy US cents/bushel, Paris futures in euros per tonne