MarketsFarm — Though China and the United States signed their Phase One trade deal on Wednesday, commodity markets remained “extremely cautious,” according to one analyst. Prices were muted at midday following a signing ceremony at the White House, due to the lack of public details regarding the deal. The market is “preparing for disappointment,” according […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Trading cautious on Phase One pact

‘Market condition’ caveat on U.S. ag purchases adds to Phase One doubts
Chicago | Reuters — China’s pledge to buy U.S. farm goods based on “market conditions” during the Phase One trade deal signing ceremony on Wednesday added to doubts among farmers and commodity traders over the lingering tariffs on U.S. exports. The agreement, meant to reduce tensions after nearly two years of a tit-for-tat tariff war, […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola stronger at midweek
MarketsFarm — Canola was “well supported” at midweek, bolstered by strength in comparable vegetable oils and relative weakness in the Canadian dollar. Chicago soy was underpinned by strong export demand and the expectation that the U.S. and China will sign Phase One of their trade deal next week. However, with heightened geopolitical tension in the […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: 2019 ends on high note
MarketsFarm — Despite a number of tough challenges in 2019, one broker at the Chicago Board of Trade said the year ended on a high note. “For what we went through with China this whole year, this trade war, you had corn, wheat and soybeans close higher for the year on Dec. 31,” said Scott […] Read more

Argentine soybeans facing tax increases
MarketsFarm — Not many major divergences can be seen between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s data (USDA) on Argentina’s soybean crop and data from the department’s attaché in Buenos Aires. What may bring changes to the country’s soybean industry are tax increases imposed by the new federal government, according to Benjamin Boroughs, the USDA attaché. […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola could break out of range
MarketsFarm — With canola now near the top end of its range, prices could break out of being rangebound in the next several days, according to an analyst. Canola has made gains over the last month or so, largely due to spillover from increasing prices for soyoil on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soyoil has […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Trade optimistic ahead of Phase One signing
MarketsFarm — Agriculture commodities on the Chicago Board of Trade started the decade on a high note, thanks to general optimism regarding an impending trade deal between the U.S. and China. Phase One of the trade deal between the two countries is set to be signed at the White House on Jan. 15, according to […] Read more

China eases customs curbs for soy imports through northern border
Beijing | Reuters — China has eased customs regulations on imports of soybean through some northern border checkpoints, the commerce ministry said, a move that could smooth the way for shipments from neighbours such as Kazakhstan, Russia and perhaps Ukraine. The changes come as China looks to diversify soybean imports amid trade tension with the […] Read more

Chinese officials, Trump agree to tariff rollbacks
Beijing/Washington | Reuters — The United States and China cooled their trade war on Friday, announcing a “phase one” agreement that reduces some U.S. tariffs in exchange for increased Chinese purchases of U.S. farm goods. Chinese officials offered no specific details on the amount of U.S. agricultural goods Beijing had agreed to buy, a key […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: WASDE yields mixed results
MarketsFarm — World agriculture supply and demand estimates (WASDE) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have turned out largely bullish for wheat values, bearish for corn and neutral for soybeans on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). The report, released Tuesday, lowered U.S. wheat stocks by 40 million bushels to total 947 million tonnes, […] Read more