Top-picking until at least Sunday

FOR FRIDAY: We missed a speculative cycle into Friday which last has caused the major cycle top last June and we think it is probably repeating. That will have us cautious top-picking until at least Sunday.

JULY SOYBEANS (electronic ok)
SWING TRADING RECOMMENDATION: Hold July bean shorts from 938 with a 946.50 stop.
TODAY’S COMMENTS: (6/16) Beans didn’t recover as much but they are still vulnerable if the market gets carried away by the wheat. Market stalled at channel resistance and much above 942 would be friendly. Beans did issue a breakdown so this rally is just fund-swinging. Key support now to 919 and then all the way to 903. Stay with shorts. Not sure we’ll get much above 930 for new shorts.
OVERALL: Daily chart suggesting 895 and if acreage increases, it’s possible that lower prices to 837.50 or 850 will come. Still, for now, they may run it up to 962 and it may be a gift for hedgers and cash sellers.
WEEKLY CHART: Given that the market is close to 895, key support, we wonder if a breakdown to 837 or 850 is likely before it’s done when hedging pressure enters.
CYCLES OVERVIEW: Lower into June 19.

Comey speaking on Thursday

FOR WEDNESDAY: (6/7) Everything revolves around Thursday’s British elections and the ECB and then we have FOMC coming up on June 14 and also Comey speaking on Thursday.Continue reading

Beans stay strong

FOR WEDNESDAY: (6/7) Soybeans were higher on commercial and technical buying. Demand’s good and old crop/new crop spreads were a factor, but there’s a long way to go in the growing season and a lot of uncertainty about acreage. U.S. planting and development are close to average, with the first condition rating of the season expected next week. Near term forecasts have hot, dry weather in parts of the Midwest and Plains. Soybean meal and oil were up modestly, following beans. Corn was higher on commercial and technical buying. This year’s U.S. corn crop is nearly officially planted, but there’s a lot of uncertainty about what that actually means in terms of acres. The USDA’s updated acreage numbers are due out at the end of the month and with the delays, re-planting, and even re-re-planting, the numbers could be interesting. The condition rating did improve 3% to 68% good to excellent. Ethanol futures were higher ahead of the weekly EIA numbers. New USDA supply and demand numbers are out Friday. According to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, there’s a 50% chance of an El Nino event this year.

UK election in focus

FOR TUESDAY: (6/6) Everything revolves around Thursday’s British elections and the ECB and then we have FOMC coming up on June 14. We should get congestion of last week’s gains for a while and this may lead to boring trading. Can do quick trades from key numbers as they set up but most didn’t set up on Monday.Continue reading

Focus on weather, planting progress

FOR TUESDAY (6/6) The trade was watching the U.S. planting pace with a mixed forecast for the Midwest and Plains over the next few days. As of Sunday, 83% of U.S. beans are planted, compared to the five year average of 79%, and 58% have emerged, compared to 59% on average. No states have officially wrapped up planting activity. Corn was also watching planting, and re-planting, weather, along with on the ground conditions ahead of the weekly USDA crop report. According to the USDA, 96% of corn is planted and 86% has emerged, both 1% slower than the respective normal paces. 68% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, up 3% on the week. Wheat was watching the weather as well with concerns about spring and winter wheat conditions, but the supply side of the market is bearish, especially for Chicago and Kansas City. For winter wheat, the USDA says 87% of winter wheat has headed, compared to 85% typically this time of year, and 10% is harvested, compared to 7% usually in early June, with 49% of the crop in good to excellent shape, 1% less than last week. For spring wheat, 90% has emerged, compared to 85% on average, and 55% of the crop is called good to excellent, a week to week drop of 7%.

Next week may be congestive, spurring range trading

FINANCIAL MARKETS OVERVIEW FOR MONDAY: (6/5) There are a lot of big events for next week with ECB, the UK elections and we’re approaching FOMC on June 14; all of this may lead to congestion and profit-taking rather than acceleration as everything got unleashed on Friday and then will continue to finish on Sunday. We have to remember to chase markets on these report breakouts but too many years of whipsaw-action has given us too many war wounds. That means next week may be a bit congestive, spurring lot of range trading.  .

Hogs a buy on dips

FOR MONDAY: (6/5) Wheat harvesters this week said yields in Texas and Oklahoma were lower than expected and some fields were grazed by cattle instead of allowed to mature.

Forecasts keep scattered showers and cool weather in the Midwest the next few days. The latest 6- to 10-day outlook (June 8-12) is dry but cool for most of the Midwest. Market may do minor highs into Monday and then congest before the USDA report on the 9th but we do see June cycle highs due into June 12-13, which means we may get some more Eastern wet weather to take the market up.

Starting to look more like a year where the market bottoms into late June and early July and then has no where to go. Cattle still look higher next week but hard to buy and hogs are a buy on dips.

S&P 2520 could come in early summer

FOR THURSDAY: (6/1) First-of-the-month action if usually a buy for fund managers but in June they have to be a bit cautious given prices at S&P 2400. Still, we think 2520 could come in early summer before this market corrects into October. Wondering how much sideways congestion will happen or if no one really cares about the employment report for a market that goes straight up.Continue reading

Cattle too strong to sell

FOR THURSDAY: (6/1) Usually meats and grains are lower on Thursdays but not clear on grains this week. First-the-month fund buying may lift some oversold conditions for bargain hunters. Hogs aren’t done enough to sell and cattle are too strong to sell.Continue reading

Open to congestive action, minor break into Sunday

FOR WEDNESDAY: (5/31) We had one of those days when people aren’t quite back from vacation and now we move to the end of the month. Will we get end of the month profit-taking so they can buy it back up? We’re open to congestive action and a minor break into Sunday of next week but not sure it means that much unless S&P 2375 comes out–and not likely. One more day lower for gold and silver and then higher into Friday.Continue reading