Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures climbed for a sixth straight session on Monday and touched their highest level in nearly a year as rainy Midwest weather and waterlogged fields stoked concerns about reduced plantings and lower yields for the crop. Wheat jumped to a three-month high on delayed spring wheat planting in the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn nears one-year peak as rains stall planting
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end mixed as market assesses trade battles
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) closed mixed on Monday as traders weighed positive news of easing trade tensions with Mexico and Canada against signs that trade ties with China are worsening. The U.S. struck deals last week to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from […] Read more
Ardent Mills to close four U.S. flour mills
Reuters — Ardent Mills will close three U.S. flour mills next month and a fourth in the first quarter of 2020, the flour miller and food ingredient maker announced Friday. The company, a joint venture between ConAgra Foods, Cargill and CHS, said the closures were necessary due to “anticipated demand and to enhance the efficiency […] Read more
Bunge moves from regional to global operating model
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. agricultural commodities trader Bunge on Wednesday overhauled its global operations and named a new chief financial officer in the latest shake-up for the 200-year-old company hard hit by a years-long grain market downturn. The moves come as Bunge reported a stronger-than-expected first-quarter profit due to higher soy crush margins in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall again on lower beef, cash prices
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. live cattle futures fell on Friday, with the actively traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) June contract down for a 10th straight session on sinking beef and cash cattle prices, and long liquidation by managed commodity funds. Cattle futures have been susceptible to steep drops as commodity funds had recently built […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy down fourth straight week on export worries, big supplies
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures eased on Friday for a sixth consecutive session, posting a fourth straight weekly drop as rain-delayed U.S. corn planting may fuel a shift to more soybean acres despite sluggish export demand from top importer China. Corn edged upward for a seventh straight day and notched its first weekly […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs mixed, nearbys up on export hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures ended mixed on Thursday, with nearby futures contracts building on strong gains in the previous session on expectations that China would soon sharply accelerate imports of U.S. pork. Deferred contracts were pressed down by active spread trading that featured buying of June futures and selling of October […] Read more
U.S. grains: Weak export data drags soybeans to new lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures posted contract lows for a fourth straight session on Thursday after weak U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) export sales data and amid ongoing concerns that rain-delayed corn sowing would increase soy plantings. Corn was mixed as spillover pressure from lower soybeans offset support stemming from concerns about delayed […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs limit up on technical buying, export hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rallied sharply on Wednesday with several contracts closing up the daily trading limit on technical buying and speculation that Chinese demand for U.S. pork is poised to grow. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is due to release weekly export sales data early on Thursday and traders […] Read more
U.S. grains: Export worries, big supplies drag soybean futures to new lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to fresh contract lows on Wednesday, pressured by sluggish exports and worries that rain-delayed U.S. corn seeding would expand the number of acres planted with soybeans, which can be sown later in the spring. Corn futures firmed as soggy fields around much of the Midwest and forecasts […] Read more