Reading Time: 2 minutes Volatility in futures contracts has remained largely stable in the face of increased participation from high-speed and algorithmic traders often blamed for roiling markets, according to a study issued on Tuesday. The study, released by the Futures Industry Association, examined volatility from roughly 2006 to 2011 in 15 futures contracts traded on platforms run by […] Read more
Study finds high-frequency trading not raising futures volatility
Zilmax halt fuels demand for rival cattle feed product
Reading Time: 3 minutes Merck’s decision to suspend sales of its Zilmax cattle feed additive has caused such a surge in demand for rival Eli Lilly’s Optaflexx that Lilly is telling some new customers it cannot immediately supply them, customers told Reuters. Zilmax became the focus of attention in the livestock industry after Tyson Foods saidn Aug. 7 it […] Read more
Dry, hot U.S. weather outlook ignites grain, soy rally
Reading Time: 3 minutes New-crop U.S. soybean futures soared their daily trading limit to an 11-month high on Monday, and corn reached a one-month peak above US$5 per bushel, as hot, dry weather threatened to cut crop yields in parts of the U.S. Midwest. Wheat jumped to its highest level in three weeks, buoyed by the sharp gains in […] Read more
Merck halts Zilmax sales, to study cattle feed additive
Reading Time: 3 minutes U.S. drugmaker Merck and Co. said on Friday it is temporarily suspending sales of its Zilmax animal feed additive in the U.S. and Canada following concerns about use of the product, which is given to cattle to increase their weight before slaughter. Zilmax has been the focus of attention in the livestock industry since Tyson […] Read more
Different method led to surprise cut in U.S. corn harvest forecast
Reading Time: 2 minutes Don’t consider the 1.3 per cent drop in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s corn harvest forecast a cut. That was the message from Lance Honig, chief of the crops branch of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, after the department sparked a rally in corn futures with a surprising reduction in its monthly outlook for […] Read more
GRAINS: Nearby soymeal extends slide, while corn steadies
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. soybean meal futures extended a steep slide on Friday amid waning demand for the livestock feed, while corn futures stabilized after sharp losses this week. Soymeal continued its free fall after closing down the daily, $20 trading limit for the past two days. End-users are reducing their purchases of expensive old-crop soybeans, which are […] Read more
GRAINS-Soybeans, soymeal drop by daily trading limits
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. soybean and soybean meal futures plunged by their daily trading limits on Wednesday as cash bids for the oilseed collapsed across the Midwest and buyers retreated from the markets. Farmers helped fuel the slide by selling some of their scarce old-crop soybeans to take advantage of nearby prices that are higher than those for […] Read more
GRAINS-Soybeans sink nearly 4 pct; corn hits 2-1/2 year low
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. soybean futures tumbled on Tuesday as cash basis bids weakened in key locations in the U.S. Midwest and farmers sold some of their scarce old-crop supplies. Corn futures also came under pressure, with the new-crop contract falling to its lowest level in more than 2-1/2 years as forecasts for nearly ideal weather during the […] Read more
GRAINS-Soymeal climbs daily limit on tight supply; corn sags
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. soybean meal futures rose by the daily trading limit to a new contract high on Monday as processors scrambled to obtain scarce supplies of the oilseed. But new-crop U.S. corn futures fell for the fifth time in seven sessions as much of the Midwest benefited from weekend showers and more rain is expected at […] Read more
Profit-taking, weather pressure new-crop U.S. corn, soy
Reading Time: 3 minutes New-crop U.S. soybean and corn futures sank on Friday as updated weather forecasts scaled back the threat of hot and dry weather in the Corn Belt and traders took profits following recent gains. Nearby July contracts expired after gyrating in extremely volatile trading. At the Chicago Board of Trade, November soybeans, representing the crop that […] Read more