Stock Sell-off Looks to Overshadow Major USDA Report!
Grain futures: It was a fairly quiet night in the Grain futures markets, as traders saved their strength for this morning’s USDA crop production and supply/demand report. Corn traders are looking for a moderate increase in production from the July report, with average estimates for a 12.909 billion bushel crop versus 12.840 billion in July. Soybeans are expected to also show a slight production rise to 2.653 billion bushels, up 28 million bushels from July’s report. All U.S. Wheat production is expected to decline, with average trade estimates calling for 2.129 billion bushels versus the 2.138 billion bushels in July’s report. At the close of the electronic overnight session, December Corn was trading at $3.45, down 3 1/4, November Soybeans were trading at $8.82, up 4 ½, and December Wheat was trading at $6.88 ½, down 1 ¼.
Cotton: U.S. Cotton production is expected to show a slight improvement in today’s USDA report, with average estimates calling for a 17.70 million-bale crop, up from 17.50 million bales in the July estimate. This is still well below 2006 production of 21.59 million bales, as producers switched acres from Cotton to Corn and Soybeans. In early electronic trade, December Cotton is trading at 6224, down 18.
Stock Index futures: No recovery in U.S. Stock index futures this morning, as major foreign stock indexes continue to slump, with the DAX 30 currently down 1.6%, the FTSE 100 down 3.01% and the Nikkei 225 closing down 2.37%. The European Central Bank added an additional 61.05 billion Euros ($83.6 billion) into the banking system today after yesterday’s 94.8 billion Euro injection. The Central Banks of Canada, Australia, and Japan joined the U.S. Federal Reserve in adding funds to help stem a short-term credit crunch. In early trade this morning, the September e-mini S&P 500 index was trading at 1440.00, down 18.00, while September mini-Dow futures are trading at 13185, down 142.
Mike Zarembski, Senior Commodity Analyst
