4-4-14 – US stocks may retain overnight gains after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this morning that the economy added 192,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate held steady at 6.6%. \r\n\r\n   Investors had expected a figure of around 200,000 new jobs, but this may be close enough since it likely will … Read More

4-3-14 – Midwestern fieldwork remains stalled this morning by rain-soaked and cold fields, although some limited planting may resume in southern states.\r\n\r\n   Much of the Midwest continues to receive rain, although the Plains and Southeastern states are drier.  More rain, however, is forecast for next week but will leave the western Plains parched, and … Read More

4-1-14 – Much of the southern Plains and the western Midwest have seen rain overnight, and much of the central and southern Midwest are expected to receive rain today.\r\n\r\n   The National Weather Service is even predicting severe storms in eastern Kansas and western Missouri with flash flooding possible in a band across Missouri, Illinois … Read More

Grain and soybean futures prices are mixed in overnight trading now that the March Stocks and Planting Intentions reports are history.  Traders are turning almost exclusively to weather as a driving force in grain markets.\r\n   Ultimately, nearly everything from now until Thanksgiving revolves around the harvest.  How much is planted.  How much rain it … Read More

3-31-14 – The key to commodity futures trading today will be the USDA’s Quarterly Stocks and Prospective Plantings reports, closely followed by Friday’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report.  The Hogs report was called bearish after its release Friday, and the March grains reports have a history of spawning volatile trading.\r\n\r\n   Pre-report surveys of trader … Read More

3-28-14 – Continuing this week’s choppy trade ahead of some key USDA reports, grain and soybean futures are mixed in overnight trading, while cattle are weaker and hogs are up.\r\n\r\n   This afternoon, the USDA’s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report is due for release.  And with growing concerns about the effects of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea … Read More

Exportable commodities are seeing a little pressure in overnight trading as the US Dollar rose against other currencies on the premise that economic data coming next week could be bullish for the greenback.  A higher Dollar could price some importing countries out of the market by making US goods more expensive relative to their currencies.\r\n … Read More