📈 Fed's first cut since 2020: Time to buy the dip? See Tech-focused stock picksUnlock AI Picks

GRAINS-Corn up 2.5 pct, retracing over half of losses

Published 04/29/2011, 12:47 PM
Updated 04/29/2011, 12:48 PM
CL
-
BIG
-

* Rebound after month-end fund liquidation

* Better corn plantings in west, slow in east

* Light deliveries on May lend support

* Coming up: USDA's planting progress report Monday

(Rewrites, updates prices, details of dollar declines)

By Sam Nelson

CHICAGO, April 29 (Reuters) - U.S. corn futures jumped 2.5 percent on Friday on bargain buying, recouping over half of the losses from a day earlier when prices fell to their lowest level in nearly a month.

"There is short-covering after yesterday's big sell-off and the outside markets are commodity-friendly with the weaker dollar, higher crude oil and gains in metals," said Don Roose, president and analyst for U.S. Commodities in Des Moines, Iowa.

Wheat and soybean futures also gained in a recovery after each market was pounded Thursday as a resumption in corn planting in western stretches of the Corn Belt alleviated concerns about supply, traders said.

Excessive wet weather in the United States has slowed corn plantings, leading to concerns about a late start for this year's crop and a potential for reduced production.

At 11:24 a.m. CDT (1624 GMT), CBOT July corn up 16-1/2 cents at $7.45-3/4 per bushel, July wheat up 13-1/4 cents at $7.90-3/4, July soy up 8 cents at $13.61-1/2.

Wheat is down 5 percent for the week and will end April with its third monthly loss in a row, the first time that has happened since 2008.

Corn is up 0.6 percent for the week and up 7 percent for the month. Soybeans are down 1.4 percent for the week and down 3.5 percent for the month.

The rebound in grain and oilseed prices on Friday also stemmed from the U.S. dollar hitting a three-year low against a basket of currencies on Friday. The dollar will end the month with its biggest loss since September, with more weakness expected as the Federal Reserve keeps interest rates low while the European Central bank raises them.

Light to no deliveries also helped the grain market recover from Thursday's sell-off.

There were no deliveries on the May futures contracts for corn and soybeans and only light deliveries for wheat. Light deliveries on a futures contract indicates that owners of the commodity want to retain ownership, a bullish signal for futures prices.

WET WEATHER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT

Support also stemming from continued wet weather in the eastern portion of the U.S. Midwest.

"There is more rain forecast for next week in the east and that will keep plantings to a minimum so that's supportive," Roose said.

Declining open interest after Thursday's big sell-off indicated the price drops were due to liquidation of long positions rather than any new net selling, a long-term bullish indicator for wheat, corn and soybean futures prices.

Open interest in CBOT corn declined 28,329 contracts on Thursday, soybeans dropped 8,027 and wheat declined 6,282 contracts, according to the CME Group Inc. (Reporting by Sam Nelson; additional reporting by Mark Weinraub in Chicago; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.