Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures hit 2018 highs to start the new year as traders continued to expect increased Chinese demand once Washington and Beijing ink an initial trade deal. The gains on Thursday extended annual advances from 2019, a year marked by farmer stress over the U.S.-China trade war and […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy hit 2018 highs

U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch seven-week high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures kicked off 2020 by approaching seven-week highs in gains driven by increasing expectations for bigger sales of American pork to China. China, the world’s largest pork consumer, needs larger imports to offset a domestic meat shortage caused by an outbreak of the fatal pig disease African swine fever. […] Read more

U.S. grains: Futures notch yearly rises on China demand hopes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat, corn and soybean futures posted annual gains in 2019 after an initial U.S.-China trade deal that could boost agricultural exports helped prices rally toward the end of the year. The crop futures finished little changed on Tuesday as markets wound down during the last session of the year and […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise in 2019 as swine fever hits China
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose in 2019 on hopes China will further increase pork imports as an outbreak of a fatal pig disease ravaged the Chinese herd. Prices eased on Tuesday as traders adjusted positions and booked some profits before the end of the year. The African swine fever disease has reshaped […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans set highest price since June 2018
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures on Monday rose to their highest price since June 2018 on expectations that Washington and Beijing will soon sign an initial trade deal that will increase American agricultural exports. China agreed to import more U.S. farm goods under the Phase 1 deal struck this month, providing support for […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rally on China trade optimism
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures shot to their highest prices in more than six weeks on Monday on increased optimism over trade with China, the world’s biggest pork consumer. China agreed to import more U.S. farm goods under a Phase 1 trade deal struck this month, providing support for farm markets. Chinese Vice-Premier […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hogs stumble as supply trumps Chinese demand
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures dropped on Friday as pressure from large domestic supplies overshadowed an uptick in pork sales to China. Traders are keeping an eye on Chinese demand because China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, is grappling with a fatal pig disease, African swine fever. Farmers are hoping China will further […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy touch highest prices since summer 2018
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat and soybean futures on Friday touched their highest prices since summer 2018 on expectations for increased Chinese buying as a result of an initial trade deal. Soybeans closed lower in a retreat from the gains. The markets continued to focus on prospects for more U.S. sales to China after […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans hit highest price since June 2018
Chicago | Reuters — The most actively traded U.S. soybean futures contract rose on Thursday, touching its highest price since June 2018 on optimism about U.S.-China trade. Traders and farmers hope China, the world’s biggest soybean importer, will ramp up U.S. purchases following a recently struck Phase 1 trade deal, which includes a commitment by […] Read more

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn rise as traders adjust positions
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures ticked higher on Friday as traders adjusted positions ahead of the year-end holidays. Lingering uncertainty over demand prospects created by a U.S.-China trade deal hung over the markets. Crop prices increased after Washington and Beijing last week struck a ‘Phase One’ trade deal that includes a […] Read more