After the Bell | November 11, 2022

Grain, soybean futures end week on firm note as U.S. dollar tumbles, China eases Covid restrictions.

Pro Farmer's After the Bell
Pro Farmer’s After the Bell
(Farm Journal)

Corn: December corn rose 4 3/4 cents to $6.58, down 23 cents for the week and the contract’s third lower weekly close in four. Corn joined a rally in soybeans as the U.S. dollar tumbled near a three-month low and China’s easing of Covid restrictions fueled expectations for stronger demand.

Soybeans: January soybeans rose 27 cents to $14.50, still down 12 1/4 cents for the week. December soymeal rose $3.30 to $407.40. December soyoil rose 88 points to 76.97 cents, after posting a five-month high of 78.64 cents. Soybeans rallied in a corrective rebound from Thursday’s losses, boosted by strength in soyoil and crude oil and prospects for increased demand from China.

Wheat: December SRW wheat rose 10 1/4 cents to $8.13 3/4 but fell 34 cents for the week. December HRW wheat gained 18 1/4 cents to $9.43 1/2, down 9 3/4 cents for the week. December spring wheat gained 14 1/4 cents to $9.45 3/4. Prices rose as the dollar’s slump sparked corrective buying following wheat’s drop to two-month lows earlier this week.

Cotton: December cotton rose 161 points to 87.99 cents, up 106 points cents for the week. Cotton futures extended Thursday’s gains as a lower-than-expected U.S. inflation reading sent the U.S. dollar tumbling near a three-month low and eased demand concerns.

Cattle: December live cattle fell $1.55 to $151.525, down 12.5 cents for the week. January feeder cattle fell $3.125 to $178.575. Disappointing cash trade weighed on live cattle futures this week. Live steers averaged $151.86 through Thursday morning, down 12 cents from last week’s average.

Hogs: December lean hog futures fell 52.5 cents to $84.35, up $1.375 on the week. Seasonally-driven cash weakness may continue to burden futures next week. The CME lean hog index fell 50 cents to $88.96, a nine-month low, and Monday’s quote is expected to fall 33 cents.