DTN Midday Grain Comments     04/19 11:31

   Mixed Trade in Grains at Midday

   Wheat is the midday leader in mostly lower action.

By David Fiala
DTN Contributing Analyst

 General Comments

   The U.S. stock market indices are weaker with the Dow futures down 55 
points. The interest rate products are higher. The dollar index is 8 points 
higher. Energies are higher with crude up 0.55. Livestock trade is lower. 
Precious metals are weaker with gold down 5.00.

   CORN

   Corn trade is flat to 1 cent lower with trade remaining mired in the lower 
end of the range. Fieldwork should expand in some areas this week with drier 
pockets to the east with warmer temps expected to wait until next week, with 
delays are expected to persist in Iowa/Minnesota area. Ethanol futures have 
edged back over the 1.50 mark. The weekly export sales were decent at 1.09 
million metric tons. On the May chart, we are right around the 20-day at $3.82 
3/8 with the 100-day at 3.71 becoming support if we fade.

   SOYBEANS

   Soybean trade has faded during the day session down, 4 to 6 cents with bull 
spreads continuing to unwind today. Meal is $2 to $3.00 lower and oil is flat 
to 10 points higher, with meal values softening, and oil at the low end of the 
recent range, while crush margins remain positive overall, they have narrowed. 
The recent pattern in South America should remain intact near term, allowing 
for greater progress in Brazil harvesting, with values remaining elevated for 
Brazilian producers to encourage harvest selling in the near term, and the U.S. 
export wire has quieted down the last few days with no announced sales in a 
week. Trade will be looking for signs of additional acres, especially with a 
slow start to planting in the Dakotas on spring wheat and the slow start to 
corn, along with double-crop potential depending on rains on the plains. Weekly 
export sales were strong at 1.04 million metric tons of old crop, 1.09 million 
of new, meal was 164,900, and oil was 28,000 metric tons. On the May contract, 
trade has slipped below the 50-day at $10.38, with the 100-day at $10.15 as the 
next level of support.

   WHEAT

   Wheat trade is mixed at midday with Kansas City wheat leading as the 
moisture potential has continued to be scaled back on recent runs. Warmer 
conditions coming should help to boost maturity with rain needed to shake off 
freeze damage along with salvaging diminished potential. Spring wheat-growing 
areas look more open but will need to thaw for better progress to be made. 
Spring wheat seeding is behind in Russia for the moment, but should see better 
catching up coming forward, with the slide in the ruble helping their export 
advantage. The weekly export sales were softer at -66,900 of old, and 240,400 
of new. On the May Kansas City contract, support is at the 20-day at $4.88 with 
resistance the 50-day at 4.97. 

   David Fiala is a DTN contributing analyst and the President of FuturesOne 
and a registered adviser. 
He can be reached at dfiala@futuresone.com 
Follow him on Twitter @davidfiala


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