Washington | Reuters — The White House on Monday said a near-simultaneous release of a top Huawei executive and two Canadians detained shortly after her arrest was not a prisoner swap, but said the moves came up in a call between the Chinese and U.S. presidents weeks before. On Friday, Huawei chief financial officer Meng […] Read more
Xi raised Huawei case in recent call with Biden, White House says
‘Two Michaels’ have left China, Trudeau says
Huawei CFO en route back to China
Ottawa | Reuters — Two Canadian citizens who were detained by Beijing for more than 1,000 days have left Chinese airspace and will arrive back in Canada early on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Friday. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were picked up in December 2018, shortly after Vancouver police arrested Huawei Technologies […] Read more
Dreyfus, others shut soy crushers in China on power curbs
'Cash is on fire'
Beijing | Reuters — Soymeal prices in China, the world’s top consumer of the animal feed ingredient, are rising after at least 20 soybean crushing plants shuttered to comply with curbs on industrial power consumption, industry participants said on Friday. Five crushing plants in the northern city of Tianjin closed this week, said Tianfeng Futures […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat finds two-week high on strong global demand
Corn, soybeans little changed; wider markets encourage consolidation
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures firmed on Friday, ending near a two-week high as the market assessed mixed global production prospects and brisk import demand. Corn eased as supply pressure from the ongoing U.S. harvest countered background support from tight supplies, while soybeans inched higher after trading both sides of even. The most-active […] Read more
Huawei executive, U.S. reach deal to dismiss charges
Meng Wanzhou would be allowed to leave Canada
Updated, Sept. 24 — Reuters — Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou has reached an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to end the bank fraud case against her, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday, a move that should allow her to leave Canada and relieve a point of tension between China and the United States. Meng was […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm on China’s herd restrictions
Cattle mixed to lower ahead of report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures firmed on Thursday, after China lowered its sow herd targets in an effort to ensure supply and stabilize prices. China’s ministry of agriculture and rural affairs said the target for its sow herd was now around 41 million head for 2021-2025 and should be […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy jump despite rising harvest as oil, equities gain
Accelerating harvest amid dry U.S. forecast caps gains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rebounded on Wednesday from four sessions of declines in a technical and fund-buying bounce fueled by rising crude oil and equities markets, more than offsetting seasonal pressure from an accelerating U.S. harvest. Soybean and wheat futures also advanced as global economic jitters eased and the dollar weakened. The […] Read more
Taiwan applies to join Pacific trade pact week after China
Taipei | Reuters — Taiwan has formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the government said Wednesday, less than a week after China said it too had submitted an application. Taiwan has been angling to join the grouping for a while and had already been discussing the issue informally […] Read more
China to release potash reserves
Move said to be intended to ensure supply, stabilize prices
Beijing | Reuters –– China’s state planner on Wednesday said the government would take measures to keep supply and prices of fertilizers stable, including releasing potash fertilizer reserves and ensuring imports reach farmers as it looks to bolster food security. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it was one of 13 government departments […] Read more
CBOT weekly outlook: Harvest moving markets sideways
Updated, Sept. 22 — MarketsFarm — Harvesting continues to progress in both Canada and the United States, resulting in quiet activity at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). “Right now during harvest, the corn, wheat and beans are all stuck in a narrow range,” said Ryan Ettner, trader for Allendale Inc. at McHenry, Ill. “For […] Read more