It was no surprise given the dynamics but the last day of the year trading session was unusual for its volume (especially in corn) and its overall bullishness. New contract highs were placed for corn, soymeal, and soyoil. The feel good even carried over into the otherwise lackluster cattle pit. As expected, current high values made deliveries miniscule against the Board for January contracts. It was a good way to end what some would call a bad year. Looking back, it wasn’t so bad for the major commodity futures contracts. Soybeans saw its largest increase in value since 2007, corn its biggest annual gain since 2010, and wheat embraced its fourth year in a row of higher gains. More importantly, the year ahead for Chicago futures looks...
What You Need to Know Today: President Trump claimed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was over, as both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the agreement. Commercial vessels are increasingly steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz as security risks escalate following Iran...
Key Takeaways: The CME Group is launching new 90 percent Lean Beef and 50 percent Lean Beef futures and options contracts in July. There are five key factors that must be present in physical markets and futures contract specifications for futures contracts to become successful. The two l...
Russian Grain Markets: 29 June-3 July 2026 The new marketing season has officially begun in Russia, although bearish sentiment has been concentrated in the southern regions closest to the Black Sea ports, where export demand has been weakest. Delays in grain deliveries to inland elevators have...
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.