Corn: March corn rose 1/2 cent to $4.98, closing near the session low. Corn futures notched slight gains despite solid outside market support, as traders pause after scoring solid gains in recent days.
Soybeans: March soybean futures rallied 13 3/4 cents to $10.45 1/2 and settled on session highs. March meal futures climbed $1.30 to $296.00, nearer session highs. March bean oil futures rose 96 points to 47.26 cents, near session highs. Soybean futures led strength across the grain and soy complex today, though ultimately continued in the tight range that has limited price action the past couple of weeks.
Wheat: March SRW wheat fell 6 1/2 cents to $5.84 1/2 and nearer the daily low. March HRW wheat lost 6 1/4 cents to $6.07 1/2, nearer the daily low. March HRS fell 3/4 cent to $6.32 3/4. The wheat futures markets fell victim to profit-taking pressure by the speculators after recent price gains, and due to a risk-off trader mentality in the general marketplace today, as seen by a sell off in the U.S. stock market.
Cotton: March cotton futures settled 27 points lower to 65.97 cents, near mid-range. Cotton futures continued lower today as prices look to challenge contract lows made earlier this month.
Cattle: April live cattle fell 97 1/2 cents to $193.80 and nearer the session low. Prices posted a seven-week-low close. March feeder cattle lost $2.20 to $266.825 and nearer the session low. The live and feeder cattle futures markets today saw selling pressure due in part to keener risk aversion in the general marketplace, as evidenced by a selloff in the U.S. stock indexes.
Hogs: Hog futures continued their slide Thursday, with nearby April falling $1.225 to $88.525. The midweek breakdown in pork values continued Thursday, with plunging pork belly prices again dragging cutout lower.