Good morning. Grain prices are mostly higher as some light short covering is seen ahead of the reports tomorrow and the end of month/quarter. The outside markets, however, are not conducive to a bounce, as the dollar is higher, and crude and equites are lower. The dollar was sharply lower yesterday on talk that the most aggressive rate hikes have already occurred and on hopes that a slip in the U.S. economy won’t be as bad as feared. The FED next meets on Nov. 1 and 2, with another interest rate increase expected. Russia announced it would annex 4 Ukraine territories into its country tomorrow. Uncertainty over the future of the grain corridor (current agreement expires in Nov) has offered support to wheat this week. The southern plains also need some rain. The most interesting news overnight was the SX/SF pushing out to 10 ¾ cent carry on very heavy volume. Some 35,000 contracts traded in the first 5 minutes last night. Surging barge freight due to low water conditions in the lower Mississippi and active bean harvest the driver for the weakness. River basis has eroded quickly this week. Bean harvest over the next 10 days across the Midwest should be one of the faster historical paces. Producers want to get the beans before they get too dry and also give time for mother nature to dry down the corn. Not much rain at all scheduled in the next two-week period. Ian has been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continues its path north. It is expected to bend west as it moves through the Carolinas. Brazil is seeing some crush plants taking extended down time due to poor margins. China’s crush margins remain poor as well. Fall board crush is down to $1.80, the lowest level since August. Export sales this morning totaled 36.9 Mln. for beans, 20.2 Mln. for corn, and 10.3 Mln. for wheat. Total bean sales for 22/23 stand at 982 versus 889 a year ago. Total corn sales stand at 511 vs 996 a year ago. First notice day for October contracts is tomorrow. Brazil elections start over the weekend. China is on holiday next week. Tomorrow is expected to be a volatile day, although the average trade guesses are not expecting much change in stocks. I guess that opens the report up for a bigger surprise. Have a safe day.
Stanford Grain Company
