MarketsFarm — Growing strength in the U.S. dollar has hurt commodity prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), according to Terry Reilly, grains analyst for Futures International in Chicago.
The impetus for the gain was comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who remarked a trade deal with China could come sooner rather than later. Trump’s comments came a day after he scorned China for its trade practices.
“It’s one of the largest one-day rallies we’ve seen since Aug. 26,” Reilly said of the greenback’s strength.
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As the harvest in southern Alberta presses on, a broker said that is one of the factors pulling feed prices lower in the region. Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, added that lower cattle numbers in feedlots, plentiful amounts of grass for cattle to graze and a lacklustre export market also weighed on feed prices.
Prices for the CBOT soy complex have been lower because traders are disappointed in the lack of confirmation regarding soybean sales to China, he stated.
Weather as well has affected the Chicago market, as most of the continental U.S. is experiencing its second-warmest September on record, Reilly said. In turn, that’s left farmers with good conditions for their crops.
However “Minneapolis wheat is rallying on unfavourable weather for spring wheat in Canada and the U.S.,” the analyst said.
Reilly also commented that corn has struggled of late because of concerns for its demand, as ethanol production is down at its lowest levels in two years.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm, a Glacier FarmMedia division specializing in grain and commodity market analysis and reporting.
