World Perspectives

Weaker Consumer Finances Darken Economic Outlook, Despite Interest Rate Cuts

The past two weeks have seen the typical influx of macroeconomic data releases, most of which helped prompt the Federal Reserve to issue its 50-bps interest rate cut on Wednesday. While the interest rate cut was initially viewed as a positive signal (lower interest rates generally increase economic activity), history suggests rate cuts can precede market corrections or recessions. This is highly dependent on other factor at play in the economy, which WPI attempts to examine here.  WPI looks at macroeconomics through three primary lenses: national-level factors, consumer income and finances, and consumer spending. The first, national-level factors, includes items such as stock market valuation, the Treasury yield curve, and the inflati...

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Market Commentary: Friday’s Ends a Tough Week Except for Soyoil and Dollar

There was a glimmer of hope for bulls on Friday, but it was just a glimmer. Soybeans, meal and HRW closed higher, but the rest of the players fell off the merry-go-round. There was generally lower volume but the trend is clear – there is an over abundance of grain on world markets and U.S...

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Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.255/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3975/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.25/bushel, up $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $1.6 from...

Parsing Newly Resumed Macro Data

With the longest government shutdown in history now over, the flow of economic data has resumed.  Two key items of market interest are the September employment report and the August’s trade numbers. But they tell an uncertain story. especially when coupled with the Consumer Price Rep...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Friday’s Ends a Tough Week Except for Soyoil and Dollar

There was a glimmer of hope for bulls on Friday, but it was just a glimmer. Soybeans, meal and HRW closed higher, but the rest of the players fell off the merry-go-round. There was generally lower volume but the trend is clear – there is an over abundance of grain on world markets and U.S...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.255/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3975/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.25/bushel, up $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $1.6 from...

Parsing Newly Resumed Macro Data

With the longest government shutdown in history now over, the flow of economic data has resumed.  Two key items of market interest are the September employment report and the August’s trade numbers. But they tell an uncertain story. especially when coupled with the Consumer Price Rep...

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Despite Futures Pullback, Cow-Calf Profits Hit Records

With November and the fall calf run almost over, the U.S. beef industry now has its first truly solid estimates of the realized profitability of many cow-calf operations. Most operations wean and market calves in the fall, starting in September or early October and running through December, whi...

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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.

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