For the past two years, grain and soy futures market prices have been knocking about in a series of relatively narrow price ranges. This is not to say that there has not been price movement, but the degrees it has shown during 2017 and 2018 are at the low end of the volatility scale for the past 11 years. Note the following highs and lows on the continuous charts of front month futures prices:
The simple difference between each high and low does not tell the whole story. Generally, the extent of daily and weekly price movements has been modest. Grain traders, especially the large multinational companies, have consistently cited the lack of volatility and what it signaled about cash markets and supply/demand balances as a reason for the o...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
