World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Agricultural Funds and ETFs

The theory that commodities were a useful tool for anyone seeking to diversify an investment portfolio gained considerable popularity in the early years of the 21st century. This was based on studies indicating that commodity and equity prices often moved in opposite directions. The viability of commodities as investments was supported at the time by some well-known academic economists. That theory has not stood up very well in more recent years, and who would want to diversify their investments during the U.S. stock market’s multi-year bullish run by buying the short-term risks posed by commodity markets? In hindsight, during most of the years since the U.S. economic recovery slowly got underway, it would have been far better to hav...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.18/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.1925/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.27/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284/short ton, up $0.3 fro...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Ending on a Sour Note

The weak jobs report sent most economic indices lower, except for gold. The dollar slumped lower despite the increased likelihood of interest rate cuts. Corn, soybeans and some wheat contract teased higher at the start of the session but they couldn’t hold. There was yet another new contr...

livestock

Post-Labor Day Look at Pork and Beef Markets

With Labor Day behind us, here is a look at the meat market going into fall. Total hog slaughter for last week was estimated at 2.391 million head, 1.5 percent lower than a year ago, making this the 15th consecutive week below year ago levels. Seasonal national average weights are starting to t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.18/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.1925/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.27/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284/short ton, up $0.3 fro...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Ending on a Sour Note

The weak jobs report sent most economic indices lower, except for gold. The dollar slumped lower despite the increased likelihood of interest rate cuts. Corn, soybeans and some wheat contract teased higher at the start of the session but they couldn’t hold. There was yet another new contr...

livestock

Post-Labor Day Look at Pork and Beef Markets

With Labor Day behind us, here is a look at the meat market going into fall. Total hog slaughter for last week was estimated at 2.391 million head, 1.5 percent lower than a year ago, making this the 15th consecutive week below year ago levels. Seasonal national average weights are starting to t...

feed-grains

WPI U.S. State Corn Yield and Production Forecasts

The size and yield potential of the 2025 U.S. corn crop is of increasing debate and importance with the USDA’s September WASDE – and, more importantly, grain harvest – just around the corner. Much of the focus of recent discussions has been the impact of dryness across parts o...

Image
From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up