DTN's Quick Takes

Grains

OMAHA (DTN) -- As we near the close, December corn is up 1/2 cent, January soybeans are up 1 3/4 cents and December Chicago wheat is down 1 1/2 cents. As expected, trade was mostly quiet ahead of Thursday's report with little else happening to push prices in either direction. December Minneapolis wheat is on track to be the winner in Wednesday's grains, trading up 9 3/4 cents on commercial buying. In outside markets, the December U.S. dollar index is steady while December gold is up $8.40 and December crude oil is down 14 cents.

Posted 11:47 -- December corn is up 1 cent, January soybeans are up 1 cent and December Chicago wheat is down 3 3/4 cents. Commercial buyers have had a knack for showing up in corn when prices neared their lows in the past and a light version of that appears to be happening again on Wednesday. Winter wheat losses have been trimmed from earlier levels and commercial buying is helping December Minneapolis wheat put in a sixth consecutive day of higher prices, trading up 4 3/4 cents.

Posted 09:44 -- December corn is down 1 1/4 cents, January soybeans are up 1/2 cent and December Chicago wheat is down 6 3/4 cents. Winter wheat prices are adding to their losses Wednesday, knowing that Thursday's WASDE report is not likely to inspire noncommercial buying. December Minneapolis wheat however, is up 2 1/2 cents, trading at its highest prices in over a month. The Energy Department said last week's ethanol production stayed close to the same level at 1.057 million barrels per day while ethanol inventory slipped from 21.5 to 21.3 million barrels, a neutral change for the week that remains a source of support for corn prices.

Posted 08:35 -- December corn is down 1 1/4 cents, January soybeans are up 3 cents, and December Chicago wheat is down 3 3/4 cents. It's probably no surprise to report that grains are off to a mixed start and, judging by previous sessions, Wednesday's trading will likely turn quiet in about a half-hour or so with traders waiting for the release of Thursday's WASDE report, due out at 11 a.m. CST. The Midwest is expecting three days of dry weather before chances for light rain return to the eastern Midwest this weekend.

Livestock

Posted 12:52 -- December cattle are down $2.00 and February cattle are down $2.17, falling back a third day from last week's high. January feeder cattle are down $3.55. December hogs are down $0.55 and February hogs are down $0.87, experiencing bearish influence from cattle on the way down just as prices were previously helped by cattle on the way up.

Posted 11:36 -- December cattle are down $1.95 and February cattle are down $1.87, falling back from last week's high while boxed beef prices keep pushing higher. USDA said choice beef was up $0.73 at $213.37 while selects were up $1.42. Early sales in Kansas and Texas at $124.00 are steady with last week's prices. January feeder cattle are down $3.22. December hogs are down $0.32 and February hogs are down $0.72 after USDA said pork carcass was down $1.09 at $79.95.

Posted 09:12 -- December cattle are down 0.57 and February cattle are down 0.50, easing back from two weeks of buying enthusiasm as the market waits to see how this week's business develops. January feeder cattle are down 0.72. December hogs are down 0.20 and February hogs are down 0.55, not finding support yet after five consecutive losing sessions. Dow Jones projected Wednesday's cattle slaughter at 117,000, up from 116,818 a year ago while hog slaughter is expected at 463,000, up from 443,455 a year ago.

(BE)

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