The CBOT was called to open mostly lower (except wheat, which was called higher) with the advancing South American soybean harvests and ongoing biofuels demand destruction in the U.S. working against futures. The markets opened as called and generally traded a quiet day, with corn posting a new contract low and soybeans and wheat finding some support. With corn futures hitting new lows and entering deeply technically oversold territory, there are many beginning to wonder if a corrective bound is overdue. Support is certainly likely to be uncovered near the $3/bushel mark for May corn and $3.25 for December. The long-term outlook for corn (and to a lesser extent soybeans) is bearish but oversold markets often need a correction to cool...
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: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...