It was a technical runup today that will correct lower but there is a Chinese curveball in play. The fundamentals remain weak – look at today’s Export Sales report. And Tuesday’s WASDE will reinforce this viewpoint. But now China is an interesting side play. The Middle Kingdom is now a punching bag in the U.S. presidential campaign. According to the left-leaning Pew Research, two-thirds of Americans have a negative view toward China. This has forced Democratic challenger Joe Biden to go from pro-engagement to trying to out-tough Donald Trump on the Middle Kingdom. Trying to out-tough Donald Trump means escalating the matter into a mixed martial arts contest. Mr. Biden’s most recent campaign ad said Donald Tru...
Macro: Treasury Squeezes Yields, the Dollar Gives Way Today’s markets are offering a lesson in pressure: it rarely disappears — it simply moves. The U.S. Treasury stepped into the bond market after long-term yields surged to levels not seen in nearly two decades. By announcing plans...
Key Takeaways: Weather conditions in Europe have continued to deteriorate following both the EU MARS’ latest balance sheet update and the August WASDE, leaving “official” estimates lagging behind the reality observed on the ground. WPI’s models anticipate a 4 perc...
Key Takeaways: With cattle supplies historically tight and packer margins deeply negative, beef processors are reducing excess slaughter capacity, with decisions over which plants to close driven by cattle availability, operating efficiency, and the ability to maintain high utilization rates...
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.