Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 17 –– Financial markets were quiet or down a little today as the U.S. dollar rallied back to regain what it lost yesterday. Gold was steady to unchanged on the day. The energy sector was steady, with crude up just slightly on the day. The U.S. grain markets were mixed, with corn down slightly […] Read more
Wittal: Speculative buying supports beans, wheat
Wittal: U.S. grains ride market momentum
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 16 — Financial markets showed some real strength today as gold pushed to new highs of $1,139. Reports that the U.S. will keep interest rates where they are helped the U.S. dollar fall, and news out of Japan that its economy is recovering faster than first anticipated all helped to push markets up past […] Read more
Wittal: U.S. beans support canola futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 13 — Markets overall fared a lot better than one would expect for a Friday the 13th. Financial markets regained some of Thursday’s losses and ended up with small gains week over week. The energy sector was down today and for the week, as reduced demand seems to be pulling crude values lower. U.S. […] Read more
Wittal: Lingering harvest supports beans
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 12 — Financial and energy markets lost momentum and took some big losses on the day, largely due to profit-taking from the speculative side of the markets. Even with the negative tone from those outside markets, U.S. grain markets were led by solid gains in the beans today. The continued drag of harvest is […] Read more
Wittal: U.S. trading limited, except in wheat
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 11 — Financial and energy markets remained in a positive mood, finishing with small gains on the day. U.S. grain markets were fairly quiet on limited trading today. The only real trading was taking place in the wheat markets, as traders were trying to do some short covering of positions. The Canadian markets were […] Read more
Wittal: China’s compromise may not restore prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 10 — Financial and energy markets were mixed today, with limited economic news of any kind available to give any real direction. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop report was a mixed bag of information. Corn production numbers, as well as end stocks and total world stocks, were decreased. U.S. bean production, end stocks […] Read more
Wittal: USDA data may spur volatility Tuesday
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 9 — Financial markets showed solid gains today, as did the energy sector. U.S. grains started off the day in a negative mood but with support from the outside markets were able to finish with gains on the day. Canola ended down slightly due to the two-cent jump in the dollar and no new […] Read more
Wittal: Farmers hauling grain into limited new sales
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 6 –– Financial markets remained steady, closing up slightly over yesterday with no new or exciting news that would spark any interest heading into a weekend. Gold continues to try to break the $1,100 mark but has not been able to close at or above that value yet. The Statistics Canada jobless report showed […] Read more
Wittal: Harvest pressures remain on U.S. grains
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 5 — Financial markets rebounded a bit while energy markets continued to slide lower. The U.S. dollar rose eight-100ths of a cent today; the Canadian dollar closed down 0.33 cents today at US93.92 cents. The Dow Jones December quote closed up 169 points at 9,954 today. Crude oil closed down 78 cents a barrel […] Read more
Wittal: Nicer weather pressures canola, U.S. grains
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nov. 4 — I am at a conference the next three days and I am trying to write this from a remote location so it will be short and sweet. Financial markets were steady to up as the U.S. dollar dropped just over six-10ths of a cent today. Energy markets were also up slightly on […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
