Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — A French court suspended on Friday the licence for two pesticides made by Dow Chemical, citing uncertainty over environmental risks including their effects on bees. The preliminary ruling by an administrative court in the city of Nice overturned a decision by France’s health and environment agency ANSES in September to grant […] Read more
French court suspends pesticides over potential harm to bees
Grain company hunt goes on for Glencore
Reading Time: 2 minutes Geneva | Reuters — Commodities giant Glencore has made unsuccessful moves for three or four smaller targets in the grain sector this year as it seeks acquisitions to grow upstream, the head of its agricultural arm said. “We have looked at three or four possibilities in our core area already this year but couldn’t reach […] Read more
Dreyfus shareholders agree to arbitration over stake sale
Reading Time: 2 minutes Amsterdam/Paris | Reuters — Family shareholders of commodity trader Louis Dreyfus have agreed to arbitration talks to settle a long-running dispute over a share sale, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The tussle concerns an attempt by minority shareholders to sell nearly 17 per cent of the group’s holding firm to Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, […] Read more
Dreyfus sees recovery after two-year profit slide
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus’ core earnings fell for a second year in 2016 amid a persistent high supply of crops, but the agricultural commodity trader said a revamp of operations should help results this year. Large inventories, low prices and limited volatility have curbed margins in the past two years for companies that […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans fall on Argentina weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell to a 1-1/2-week low on Wednesday on an improved South American crop weather outlook while corn edged higher on export demand, traders said. Wheat sagged on ample old-crop supplies and a lack of supportive news. Chicago Board of Trade March soybean futures settled down 3-1/4 cents at $10.55-1/4 per […] Read more
U.S. grains: Exports support soybeans after U.S. holiday
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures rose on Friday to a new four-month high as stronger-than-expected weekly exports and an easing dollar provided support as trading resumed after a holiday closure. Soybeans remained firm despite a decline in soyoil futures, which gave back some of the huge gains from Wednesday when vegetable oils […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat rises on dry weather worries
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris/Singapore | Reuters –– Chicago wheat futures rose on Monday, snapping a two-session fall, as dry weather in some U.S. and European wheat belts stirred concern in a market that has been weighed down by the prospect of record global supplies this season. Soybeans lost more ground as U.S. farmers are expected to boost the […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus stems profit slide, but headwinds persist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — Agricultural trading giant Louis Dreyfus Company eked out a small rise in 2016 first-half net profit, saying steady shipped volumes helped it weather another tough period in commodity markets. Louis Dreyfus has been grappling with ample supply, lower prices and slower economic growth that have cut margins, while also going through […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat extends gains on dry, chilly weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Chicago wheat climbed on Tuesday to add to sharp gains a day earlier as the market assessed the risk of yield losses to U.S. crops due to a combination of dry and cold weather. Corn finished stronger and touched a nearly two-month high, with traders digesting news that China is to scrap its […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus reports lower profits, seeks partners
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus is seeking partners for some of its businesses to help the commodity trading group to weather a market downturn that hit full-year profits. Lower prices, plentiful supply and faltering economic growth in emerging economies have put pressure on commodity traders such as Louis Dreyfus that collect, export and process […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
