China, Russia, and Brazil are not the only entities betting against the U.S. dollar. The Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund peaked last October at 30.36 and has fallen 8.6 percent since then. The opposite bet, the Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bearish Fund is up 11 percent over that same period. The dollar index generally follows interest rate differentials, and the Federal funds effective interest rate is likely to climb over 5 percent as of tomorrow’s Federal Reserve Bank announcement. It was nearly 40 percent lower last October. So if the interest rate is rising, why are speculators expecting a decline in the dollar’s value? The dollar valuation may have eased or reversed as speculators watch the Fed slow the pace of inter...
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
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.