Chicago soybeans fell on Monday after an overnight rally with the mood in outside markets souring as U.S. President Donald Trump attacked U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, causing concerns about the autonomy of the U.S. central bank.
Speculative fund traders were busy putting on fresh bearish bets in early December, taking the net managed money short position back above 100,000 contracts for the first time in two months, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
U.S. soybean futures fell on Monday on favourable crop weather in South America, forecasts for a record-smashing Brazilian harvest and continued concerns about the incoming Trump administration's hawkish approach to trade with top soy importer China.
U.S. wheat futures turned higher on Wednesday as worries about crop prospects in top global exporter Russia sparked a round of short-covering, analysts said.
U.S. soybean and corn futures climbed to two-month highs on Tuesday, following broad gains in commodity and equity markets after China unveiled economic stimulus measures, but pared gains as forecasts called for improved crop weather in South America, analysts said.
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures hit nearly a seven-week high on Monday as uncertainty about Brazilian planting weather and the size of the U.S. harvest sparked a round of fund-driven short-covering, analysts said.
Chicago corn and wheat futures ticked down on Thursday following lackluster export sales data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Soybeans were dragged along for the ride despite more encouraging numbers, said analysts.
Soybean futures climbed on Wednesday on a round of short covering sparked by concerns over hot, dry weather in top producer Brazil that may threaten soybean seeding, traders said.
Chicago wheat futures eased on Tuesday as geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine faded into the background and brisk exports of Black Sea wheat continued to pose tough competition to U.S. wheat exports, traders said.