Cuiaba, Brazil | Reuters — Shares in JBS SA , the world’s largest meatpacker, spiked on Thursday as speculation mounted over its strategy for weathering the fallout from a corruption scandal centered on its owners. The stock closed 23 per cent higher, approaching levels last seen before the graft scandal rattled Brazil a week ago […] Read more

JBS shares soar as speculation mounts over crisis fallout
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy rangebound
CNS Canada –– Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade are expected to hold near-term ranges, as traders decide where to lay their focus amid a mix of factors. “Weather will dominate; that’s no surprise to anybody,” said Sean Lusk of Walsh Trading. That influence is likely to have a supportive effect […] Read more

U.S., China accelerate beef talks
Chicago | Reuters — Talks on restarting U.S. beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing U.S. farmers to vie for business that has been lost by rival Brazil. As part of a trade deal, U.S. ranchers […] Read more

Brazil watchdog opens new probes into JBS-related insider trading
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s securities regulator said it launched four new probes against meatpacker JBS SA and other companies controlled by J+F Investimentos on Friday to investigate suspicious trades made before markets were rattled by the revelation of a plea deal by the company’s top executives. In a statement late on Friday, CVM […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn hits one-week high on weather worries
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose nearly two per cent on Friday and notched a one-week high as worries about cool temperatures and excessive rains in the Midwest prompted traders to cover short positions ahead of the weekend, analysts said. Soybeans firmed following Thursday’s three per cent selloff as Brazil’s currency stabilized. Wheat […] Read more

JBS delays but does not give up on U.S. IPO plan
Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meatpacker, has delayed but not ditched its plan to list a U.S. subsidiary this year despite a series of investigations targeting the company’s owners, CEO Wesley Batista said Tuesday. A court last week ruled the CEO and his brother Joesley, fellow founder and current JBS […] Read more
Brazil police probe ag ministry for corruption
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian federal police started two separate investigations on Tuesday into suspected corruption at the Agriculture Ministry to benefit meatpacking, dairy and other food companies. The probes into whether inspection procedures were eased in favour of certain unnamed companies comes two months after the country’s meatpacking industry was rocked by a […] Read more

Brazil police probe loans to JBS
Brasilia | Reuters — Brazil federal police are investigating suspected fraud in loans by state development bank BNDES to JBS SA, a police source said on Friday, sending shares of the world’s largest meat processor lower after a series of scandals. Separately, police said earlier on Friday they would detain 37 people for questioning and […] Read more

JBS mulls delaying IPO of international unit
Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s largest meat processor, may postpone the New York listing of a global food processing unit originally expected for the second quarter because of lukewarm investor feedback after a scandal in Brazil, two people with knowledge of the situation said. Executives at Sao Paulo-based JBS were worried […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn tumbles on weather forecasts, NAFTA jitters
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. corn futures fell more than one per cent Wednesday on forecasts for better Midwest planting weather and news that the White House is considering an executive order on withdrawing from North American Free Trade Agreement, analysts said. Soybeans also declined and wheat turned lower as corn sagged. Chicago Board of […] Read more