On The Money Grain Commentary 2-2-12

Corn Outlook:      A wetter pattern is forecast in Argentina this week, which will help late-planted corn.  However, weather is becoming less of a factor as harvest has begun in northern Brazil.  In the meantime, domestic basis levels are strong and providing underlying support.  Additional support is sponsored from the rally in wheat.  EU leaders[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 1-19-12

Corn Outlook:       Corn futures have been on a downhill roll since the crop report last week.  Large traders were overly exuberant going into the report as the trend following funds bought 180 MB increasing their long position to 755 MB.  Right now, those positions are under water with the funds jumping ship.  Traders are[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 1-5-12

Corn Outlook:      Traders celebrated when they returned from the New Year holiday as the stock market surged and the grains rallied.  Optimism regarding Europe led to the strength in equities.  While pumping money into their financial system to resolve the debt crisis is a band-aid measure, it does not fix the problem.  However, cutting[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 12-29-11

Corn Outlook:      Very little news is coming out of Europe, which has prompted speculators to shift their focus to weather in South America rather than the debt crisis.  Conditions are dryer than normal, especially in Argentina, which has created a surge in grain futures.  During the holidays, volume tends to be thin as commercial[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 12-22-11

Corn Outlook:      Grain futures can be listless during the holidays but, at times, erratic because of lack of liquidity and year-end position squaring as we are seeing now.  Sometimes, it does not require much news to push prices to an extreme.  For example, recent dryness in South America sparked an 8.4 percent rise in[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 12-15-11

Corn Outlook:       The ship for the grains is listing, and the funds are bailing.  Although domestic stocks of corn are tight and dryness is creeping into South America, they are overshadowed by other issues.  World stocks are on the upswing, China’s production is rebounding, and U.S. exports face stiff competition from the southern hemisphere. […]

On The Money Grain Commentary 12-8-11

Corn Outlook:      Grain futures are struggling amid uncertainty surrounding the European debt crisis and poor exports.  Currently, traders are unsure which way to turn going into the EU summit meeting on Thursday-Friday.  Anxiety is high as there are fifteen countries facing a potential credit rating downgrade.  The reality is there is no quick fix[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary 12-1-11

Corn Outlook:      Grain futures rebounded this week amid optimism that Europe is closer to resolving its debt crisis.  The move by the Federal Reserve and world central banks to increase liquidity by reducing the rate for U.S. dollar swaps is literally grasping for straws.  Intervention alone is not a long-term fix for Europe’s economy. […]

On The Money Grain Commentary–11-23-11

Corn Outlook:      Corn futures have been on a slippery slope the past two weeks amid concerns of the worsening debt crisis in Europe, potential slowing of China’s economy, large traders abandoning their stake in commodities, and bankruptcy of MF Global.  Competition for export business from the Black Sea region has been fierce evident by[…]

On The Money Grain Commentary–11-17-11

Corn Outlook:      Corn futures cratered this week amid sluggish demand, weakness in the outside markets, and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the debt crisis in Europe.  Conditions are becoming worse as bond yields in Italy, Ireland and Spain are soaring and reaching the point of being unsustainable.  Meanwhile, the next crisis in Europe will likely be[…]