Grains and oilseeds are mixed on Wednesday following the overnight session. The U.S. dollar is higher for a second day. Crude oil continued to recover this week. Stock futures are steady to lower as equities struggled to find buyers this week.
CORN
March corn futures held onto early-week losses after trading 1.75 cents lower on Tuesday to $4.40 ½. Prices retreated back down to the lower end of their consolidation range between $4.35 and $4.55.
Catch-up data from the USDA this morning showed that corn export sales remained strong through the week ending Dec. 18. Sales totaled 2.22 MMT, holding well above seasonal levels.
The EIA will release its latest ethanol production data later this morning. Weekly data suggests ethanol processors are on track to meet the USDA’s target of 5.6 billion bushels, as large domestic supplies encourage crush.
SOYBEANS
March soybean futures were steady on Tuesday but held onto losses from the previous session. Prices traded back near fresh two-month lows overnight.
Bloomberg reported that China has bought more than 8 MMT of U.S. soybeans for the current season. Available USDA data shows that China is confirmed to have purchased just 6.56 MMT of soybeans.
The lack of a formal trade deal will continue to create uncertainty in the market regarding soybean demand.
Soybeans could begin to feel harvest pressure from South America as combines begin rolling into fields over the next few weeks.
WHEAT
March Chicago wheat traded 2.25 cents lower to close at $5.10 ¾ a bushel on Tuesday and held onto losses from the previous session. Higher open interest suggests that this week’s selling has likely brought in additional short positions.
Drier weather is expected for the U.S. plains over the next week, though better chances of precipitation are expected to return in week 2. Above-average temperatures could allow rain to soak into the ground and aid soil moisture for areas that have seen growing deficits over the past month.
The Buenos Aires Grain Exchange raised its wheat production forecast to 27.8 MMT, up from the previous estimate of 27.1 MMT. That is now the largest private and public forecast for the crop as farmers wrap up the harvest.
Russia and Ukraine continued to strike each other’s Black Sea ports overnight. Ukraine struck a refinery port, while Russia hit Ukraine’s Odesa port, which could impact some commodity shipping.
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PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. FUTURES TRADING INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS.



















