Grains were higher overnight again led by soybeans while wheat was in the red for much of the night session. In outside markets, the US dollar was fractionally higher after yesterday’s steep sell-off and crude oil was also lower in limited trade.
Wheat continues to struggle with ample domestic and world stockpiles. The US carry-out projections are giving us nearly half of a year’s crop (47.4%). While international players like France and Germany are having severe crop issues, the rest of the world remains replete in wheat stockpiles. The US dollar has moved 2% lower in the past two weeks which should help bolster US competitiveness in wheat trade.
Soybean prices continue to rally off of their lows from August 2nd, adding nearly 60 cents a bushel in that time frame. Corn, while higher, has found less enthusiasm to the upside only adding 13 cents. Farmers continue to struggle with holding old crop corn inventories to make way for the new crop in the next month. Storage space will surely be at a premium this fall.
Crude oil prices fell in early Asia trade Wednesday, as optimism that major producers would agree to a production freeze agreement ebbed after Iran signaled it has little interest in such a deal. Traders and investors are focusing on the weekly U.S. oil data to be released later today. Estimates by the American Petroleum Institute indicate U.S. crude stocks fell 1 million barrels, but gasoline inventories rose 2.2 million barrels.
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