Recap for April 7
Wheat futures advanced Monday on concerns about continued dryness in parts of the hard red winter wheat belt, while corn futures declined on ideas drier weather in other areas will benefit spring planting. Soy complex futures closed mixed. Chicago May wheat rose 6½c, closing at $6.76¼ a bu, Kansas City May gained 5¾c, closing at $7.39½ a bu and Minneapolis May rose ¾c, closing at $7.22¼ a bu. May corn dropped 2½c, closing at $4.99¼ a bu. May soybeans fell 9½c, closing at $14.64¼ a bu. May soybean meal fell $4.80, closing at $474.30 a ton. May soybean oil fell 0.14c, closing at 41.43c a lb.
Major U.S. stock indexes tumbled again Monday on a sell-off in technical stocks and concern about first-quarter earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 167 points, closing at 16,245.87. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 20 points, closing at 1,845.04. The Nasdaq Composite Index declined nearly 48 points, closing at 4,079.75.
The value of the U.S. dollar against the euro was lower Monday.
Crude oil futures declined Monday as two ports in Libya previously held by rebels were reopened. The May contract ended 70c lower, closing at $100.44 a barrel.
Gold futures declined Monday on uncertainty about the Fed’s easy money policy. The June contract dropped $5.20, closing at $1,298.30 an oz.
Recap for April 4
Corn and most soy complex futures gained Friday while wheat futures fell. Prospects for rain in thirsty parts of the hard red winter wheat belt pushed prices lower. Corn rose on ideas cold, wet weather in the Northern Midwest may slow planting. Chicago May wheat fell 6¼c, closing at $6.69¾ a bu, Kansas City May fell 10¼c, closing at $7.33¾ a bu and Minneapolis May fell 9c, closing at $7.21½ a bu. May corn gained 1¾c, closing at $5.01¾ a bu. May soybeans fell 1½c, closing at $14.73¾ a bu, while July contracts forward ended higher. May soybean meal fell $1, closing at $479.10 a ton, while August contracts forward ended higher. May soybean oil fell 0.10c, closing at 41.57c, while September contracts forward were higher.
Major U.S. stock indexes fell Friday despite news of relatively strong March jobs data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 160 points, closing at 16,412.71. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost almost 24 points, closing at 1,865.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index tumbled more than 110 points, closing at 4,127.73.
The value of the U.S. dollar against the euro was lower Friday.
Crude oil futures gained Friday on data showing solid jobs growth in the United States. The May contract ended 85c higher, closing at $101.14 a barrel.
Gold futures jumped on short-covering Friday following a report showing good gains in U.S. payrolls. The June contract gained $18.90, closing at $1,303.50 an oz.
Recap for April 3
Corn, wheat, soybean, soybean oil and old crop soybean meal futures prices advanced Thursday. Concerns that rain may delay planting supported corn while drought worries moved wheat futures higher. Soybeans were buoyed by weekly export data showing China had not cancelled any orders. Chicago May wheat gained 6¾c, closing at $6.76 a bu, Kansas City May rose 5¼c, closing at $7.44 a bu, and Minneapolis May gained 8¼c, closing at $7.30½ a bu. May corn advanced 4¼c, closing at $5.00 a bu. May soybeans gained 13c, closing at $14.75¼ a bu. May soybean meal rose $3.60, closing at $480.10 a ton. Soybean oil futures gained 0.82c, closing at 41.67c a lb.
Major U.S. stock indexes mostly edged lower Thursday as investors turned cautious in advance of Friday’s monthly jobs report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was about flat, closing at 16,572.55. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped more than 2 points, closing at 1,888.77. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell close to 39 points, closing at 4,237.74.
The value of the U.S. dollar against the euro was higher Thursday.
Crude oil futures rose Thursday on concerns about supply and as tension intensified between Russia and Ukraine. The May contract gained $0.67, closing at $100.29 a barrel.
Gold futures fell Thursday on a stronger U.S. dollar. The June contract fell $6.20, closing at $1,284.60 an oz.
