President-Elect Joe Biden has started the process of naming cabinet nominees, beginning with the top agencies of Treasury and State. Janet Yellen will be nominated to be Secretary of the Treasury. The equity markets reacted favorably as she is a respected and known entity among the names that were floated. It gave the financial sector a boost in confidence. She was Chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018 and was Vice Chair from 2010 to 2014. Previously, she was the head of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors during the Clinton Administration and during the late 1970’s she was a staff economist at the Federal Reserve. She was chairman when the Fed started the incremental interest rate increases in December of 201...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.