By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — First-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped for the third consecutive week, a sign the job market is slowly recovering. The Labor Department said Thursday that initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 444,000. That’s above economists’ forecasts of 440,000, according… read more
Tag Archives: economic news
Opening Grain News
By Andrew Johnson Jr. Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES CHICAGO (Dow Jones)–Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures are poised for a lower start to Friday’s day session on pre-weekend positioning in the absence of fresh fundamental news. CBOT soybeans are seen opening the day session 2 cents to 3 cents lower. A weak undertone from outside,… read more
Grain Calls
WHEAT – Down 1 to 2 cents per bushel. Firm dollar and ongoing pressure from abundant supply of wheat weigh on wheat futures. Neutral reaction to USDA’s weekly export CORN – Up 1 to 2 cents per bushel. * Support from larger-than-expected number for corn in USDA’s weekly export sales report and forecasts for showers… read more
Open Grain Calls
CORN – Down 1 to 2 cents per bushel. Higher dollar, lower crude oil and plentiful supply of feedgrains weigh on corn futures. Some choppy price action amid unsettled U.S. corn seeding weather. SOYBEANS – Down 2 to 3 cents per bushel. Firm dollar, lower crude oil and harvesting of record large South American soybean… read more
Canadian dollar trades at parity with the U.S Dollar! [chart]
The Canada dollar has traded equal to the U.S. dollar for the first time since July 2008. The Canadian dollar, also nicknamed the loonie for the aquatic bird on the C$1 coin, is being supported by the rising price of crude oil and the prospect of higher interest rates. The last time the Canadian dollar traded at par with the U.S… read more
Department of Energy reporting error
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Energy Department discovered a problem in the way that it collects data and will soon be reducing the amount of U.S. natural gas production that it has been reporting. June natural gas is trading higher.… read more
Livestock News
CHICAGO, March 31 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures were narrowly mixed early on Wednesday in electronic trading as beef market was seen topping. Hogs were higher on support from Friday’s bullish hog report with steadier cash hogs and higher product supportive.… read more
Opening Grain Calls
CHICAGO, March 31 (Reuters) – CBOT soy futures were called to open down at least 7 to 12 cents per bushel Wednesday, with corn down 3 to 5 cents and wheat down 2 to 4 cents on what traders called bearish stocks data in USDA’s quarterly stocks report. (Reporting by Sam Nelson; Editing by John… read more
Hog update
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures were sharply higher in early pit trading on Tuesday as funds continued to buy summer month contracts after USDA on Friday reported a smaller-than-expected U.S. hog herd, traders said.… read more
Grain Opening Calls
WHEAT – Up 3 to 4 cents per bushel. * Weak dollar and technical short-covering lifting wheat futures but gains limited by abundant global stockpile of wheat. SOYBEANS – Up 3 to 4 cents per bushel. Weak dollar, higher crude oil and concerns about ability of South America to ship soy due to spreading labor… read more