First up, Abnormal Returns:
Chart of the day
Corn is trading at new highs. (WSJ)
And from Bloomberg:
Corn Futures Extend Rally to 33-Month High as Demand Outpaces U.S. Supply
Corn prices climbed to the highest since July 2008 on speculation that U.S. inventories will tighten as demand increases for food, livestock feed and fuel.
U.S. corn stockpiles on March 1 dropped to the lowest for the date in four years, the Department of Agriculture said last week. The agency may cut its forecast this week for supplies held as of Aug. 31. The U.S. sold 101,600 metric tons to unknown destinations, the USDA said today. High fuel costs are boosting demand for grain-based ethanol, and feed demand is rising as cattle and hog prices climb.
“Meat is at all-time highs, so obviously feed usage isn’t likely to be rationed,” said Frank Cholly Sr., a senior strategist at Lind-Waldock, a broker in Chicago. “The ethanol grind isn’t likely to slow down as long as they’re profitable, so corn prices have to go higher.”
Corn futures for May delivery rose 6.5 cents, or 0.9 percent, to settle at $7.6675 a bushel at 1:15 p.m. on the Chicago Board of Trade, the highest closing price on record for a contract closest to expiration. Earlier, the commodity reached $7.7075, the highest since July 3, 2008. Corn has more than doubled in the past year....MORE
