Funds were still aggressive net sellers to start the week and drove wheat and corn futures to new selloff lows. Both markets also received fundamental pressure from international competition (e.g., Russia’s cheap wheat offers) and, in the case of corn, slow U.S. exports. The day’s price action, however, was still dominated by technical factors and managed money traders, both of which are keeping grain markets on the defensive. The lone holdouts for the day were soybeans and soymeal, which managed to shrug off the worst of the pressure and, in the case of soymeal, settle slightly higher. The USDA’s surprisingly bearish Ag Outlook Forum balance sheets continue to ripple through markets as well with a renewed sense that world...
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.
What You Need to Know Today: The hot, dry weather forecast continues to drive strength in grain futures with corn and soybeans hitting another day of strong gains. Monday’s Crop Progress and Conditions data were in line with market expectations and showed relatively few concerns for the...
Yesterday we wrote about the Q1 GDP numbers and the June employment reports in an article entitled Real GDP for Q1 Relying on AI Buildout, Held Back by Consumer Spending. That article mentioned that consumer spending had become a drag on GDP. Nonetheless, real GDP in Q1 was revised upward to 2...
Key Takeaways: The Middle East and North Africa's arid climate and limited water resources have created a structural dependence on imported wheat. Government wheat tenders in major importing countries serve as important benchmarks for global trade, providing insight into exporter competitivene...