Commodities and Elections Financial and commodity indicators correlate with elections, but there is a more important conclusion. Soy Prices Fail to Ration Demand Soybean production declined in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay in 2012 because of drought, and as a result U.S. soybean and soymeal prices have reached record levels this year. However, USDA is forecasting global soybean consumption will rise in 2012/13. The Farm Bill and the Election Will the farm bill -- or lack thereof -- be a factor in the 2012 election? Don’t bet on it. The U.S. Ethanol Market’s Unstable Future The Renewable Fuel Standard was the U.S. government’s attempt to influence the free market. By building a faulty business structure,...
World Perspectives, Inc. welcomes Steve Wolf as Director of Commodity Intelligence. Steve brings a broad range of agribusiness, commodity market, and consulting experience to WPI from previous roles at Tyson Foods and Informa Economics (now part of S&P Global). Steve most recently spent thr...
Beef packer margins improved to -$200/head last week, up $57 from the prior week as the Choice cutout strengthened while fed cattle prices moved lower. The cutout rose to $392/cwt, continuing its seasonal climb into summer demand, while fed cattle prices eased to $257/cwt. The improvement helpe...
What You Need to Know Today: U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent said Friday that the U.S. has seized $1b of Iranian crypto assets. Iran’s IGGC says 15 merchant vessels, including 4 oil tankers, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. Managed money traders...
Developer's Note: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where obs...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.