12-29 End of Day: Year End Trade Sees Markets Pressed Lower to Close out the Year
FROM ALL OF US AT TOTAL FARM MARKETING, HAVE A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
The CME and Total Farm Marketing offices will be closed Monday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day.
All prices as of 2:00 pm Central Time
| Corn | ||
| MAR ’24 | 471.25 | -3 |
| JUL ’24 | 494 | -2 |
| DEC ’24 | 503.5 | -1.25 |
| Soybeans | ||
| JAN ’24 | 1293.5 | -11.75 |
| MAR ’24 | 1298 | -14 |
| NOV ’24 | 1245.75 | -13 |
| Chicago Wheat | ||
| MAR ’24 | 628 | -3.5 |
| MAY ’24 | 639.5 | -2.75 |
| JUL ’24 | 645.75 | -2 |
| K.C. Wheat | ||
| MAR ’24 | 642 | -1.75 |
| MAY ’24 | 644 | -1 |
| JUL ’24 | 646 | -0.25 |
| Mpls Wheat | ||
| MAR ’24 | 723.5 | -2 |
| JUL ’24 | 740 | -3.25 |
| SEP ’24 | 747 | -3.75 |
| S&P 500 | ||
| MAR ’24 | 4819.25 | -13 |
| Crude Oil | ||
| FEB ’24 | 71.53 | -0.24 |
| Gold | ||
| FEB ’24 | 2075.8 | -7.7 |
Grain Market Highlights
- The lack of fresh bullish news and beneficial rain falling in the driest areas of Brazil this weekend, and into the new year, gave traders fuel to press existing short positions and corn prices lower on relatively light volume.
- Soft weekly export sales and more favorable Brazilian weather, with rain currently falling with more expected this weekend and into the new year, weighed heavily on soybeans as funds likely pared long positions to close the year.
- Soybean meal and oil closed in opposite directions, with meal lower on continued pressure from higher anticipated Argentine production, and bean oil higher on a rise in palm oil prices due to lower production and Malaysian flooding.
- Weak weekly export sales and the cancellation of an Egyptian purchase pressed the wheat markets lower into mid-morning before they recovered most of their losses going into the close.
- To see the updated US 6-10 day temperature and precipitation outlooks, and 1 week precipitation forecasts for both Brazil and Argentina, courtesy of NWS and NOAA, scroll down to other Charts/Weather Section.
Note – For the best viewing experience, some Grain Market Insider content is best viewed with your phone held horizontally.
Corn
Action Plan: Corn
Calls
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Cash
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Puts
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Corn Action Plan Summary
- No new action is recommended for 2023 corn. Since the beginning of August, the corn market has traded sideways largely between 470 and 500. October’s brief breakout to 509 ½ and the subsequent failure to stay above the 50-day moving average indicates there is significant resistance in that price range. The failure of December’s USDA report to provide a bullish influence on the market puts the market at risk of drifting sideways to lower without a bullish catalyst. During last summer’s June rally, Grain Market Insider recommended making sales when Dec ’23 was around 624. For now, Grain Market Insider will continue to hold tight on any further sales recommendations for the next few weeks with the objective of seeking out better pricing opportunities. If the market has not turned around by then, Grain Market Insider may sit tight on the next sales recommendations until spring.
- No new action is recommended for 2024 corn. Since late February ’22, Dec ’24 has been bound by 485 ¾ on the bottom and 602 on the top. After testing 491 to 547 last July, it has mostly traded between 500 and 525. During this time, Dec ’24 has held up better as bear spreading has allowed Dec ’24 to maintain more of its value versus old crop prices as traders attempt to price in a larger 2023 carryout with more uncertainty remaining for the 2024 crop. Moving forward, the risk for 2024 prices is the same as for 2023 prices, which is a continuation of a sideways to lower trend without a bullish catalyst. Grain Market Insider is watching for signs of a change in the current trend to look at recommending buying Dec ’24 call options. This past spring, Grain Market Insider recommended buying Dec ‘23 560 and 610 call options ahead of the summer rally and having those in place helped provide confidence to pull the trigger on recommending 2023 sales into that sharp rally, knowing that if corn kept rallying and went to 700 or 800 that the call options would protect those sold bushels.
- No Action is currently recommended for 2025 corn. Grain Market Insider isn’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2025 crop that will be planted two springs from now. It will probably be late winter or early spring of 2024 before Grain Market Insider starts considering the first sales targets.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following corn recommendations:
Market Notes: Corn
- Corn futures ended the year with selling pressure as funds pushed their short position with the lack of overall bullish news, and friendlier weather forecasts for Brazil on a light volume trading day. March corn closed 3 cents lower on the session and was 1 ¾ cents lower on the week.
- Friday was the last trading session for the year. The March ‘24 corn contract traded 146 ¾ cents lower on the year from closing on 12/30/22 at 618. Prices have been impacted over the year by a growing corn supply, overall demand concerns with competition from global exporters, and a better-than-expected harvest this past fall.
- Weekly corn export sales were within expectations for last week. Exporters sold 1.242 MMT (48.9 mb) of corn last week with Mexico again the top buyer of U.S. corn. Total corn sales commitments now total 1.158 billion bushels, up 375 from a year ago.
- Grain markets saw selling pressure as the prospects of beneficial rainfall looks to hit key areas of Brazil over the weekend. The trend is looking to keep a more active weather pattern into January.
- Longer-term prospects in the corn market are concerned about an early start to the second crop Brazil corn. A Bloomberg sourced article published today was detailing that due to dry weather, some areas are seeing earlier soybean harvest than expected, which is allowing producers to shift to planting the summer second crop corn.
Above: Since the middle of November, the March corn contract has been rangebound mostly between 495 up top and 470 on the bottom. Overhead resistance lies between 490 and 497, with heavier resistance near 510, and without fresh bullish input, the market runs the risk testing major support near 460.
Soybeans
Action Plan: Soybeans
Calls
2023
No New Action
2024
Active
Enter(Buy) NOV ’24 Calls:
1280 @ ~ 69c & 1360 @ ~ 42c
2025
No New Action
Cash
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Puts
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Soybeans Action Plan Summary
- No new action is recommended for 2023 soybeans. Front month soybeans continue to be rangebound, largely between 1290 and 1400. At some point, the front month will eventually break out of that range, and if it breaks out to the downside, then the first risk would be 1180. If the breakout occurs to the topside, then the first opportunity would be 1510. The biggest looming catalyst behind a potential downside breakout is the projected record global carryout of soybeans, while the biggest looming catalyst for a potential upside breakout is continued adverse South American weather. Given the uncertainty of which direction the market will go, Grain Market Insider recently recommended adding to sales as the current price level is still historically good. It’s been disappointing how the market has been unable to push higher despite the South American planting disruptions. Because of that, Grain Market Insider’s concern is that, if the weather pattern doesn’t remain adverse, the path of least resistance could be lower. Grain Market Insider will continue to look at additional sales opportunities, as well as potential re-ownership strategies.
- Grain Market Insider sees a continued opportunity to buy November ’24 1280 soybean calls and November ‘24 1360 soybean calls in equal quantities with a total net spend of approximately 111 cents plus commission and fees. Since the middle of last July, the Nov ’24 contract has been largely rangebound between 1250 and 1320. Today’s settlement of 1265 ¼ is the fourth day in a row with a close above 1250 support and the third day in a row with a stronger closing price. Grain Market Insider wants to take advantage of this value area and recommend purchasing call options. Purchasing call options now will give you confidence to make sales against anticipated production for the 2024 crop, which is yet to be planted, and they will also help to protect those future sales in the event prices continue to rally further.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following soybean recommendations:
Market Notes: Soybeans
- Soybeans closed significantly lower to end the year, and while thin holiday trade may have caused a larger sell-off than markets would normally see, improved weather conditions for the majority of Brazil has been a bearish factor. Heavy scattered rains are falling over the country this afternoon in some of the driest areas.
- At the end of last year, March soybeans closed at 1399 ¾ and today they finished out the year at 1298, marking a loss of over a dollar, but soybeans have still held up better than corn and wheat have. For the month, March soybeans lost 64 ¼ cents, March soybean meal lost $28.20, and March soybean oil lost 3.87 cents.
- While weather is turning wetter for Brazil, some soybeans that were planted early in the central region were not able to withstand the early drought and heat, and some are being either ripped up or harvested early so that corn or cotton can be planted on time. This could bring some support to prices moving into the new year.
- Export sales for soybeans were on the soft side at 36.2 mb for 23/24, which was down 51% from the previous week and 38% from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 44.7 mb were well above the 26.9 mb needed each week to achieve the USDA’s export estimate. Primary destinations were to China, Japan, and Mexico.
Above: After posting a high of 1398 ½ in November, soybeans found support around 1292. Overhead, nearby resistance remains near 1350 and again around 1400. If the market breaks support at 1292, it runs the risk of testing 1250.
Wheat
Market Notes: Wheat
- Wheat ended the week on the softer side, with a mostly lower close across the board. However, for the week, March Chicago wheat did gain 11-3/4 cents, and its KC counterpart ended up 19 cents. With markets closed next Monday for the New Year’s holiday, the shortened trading week may bring some added volatility.
- The USDA reported an increase of 10.2 mb of wheat export sales for 23/24 and an increase of 1.5 mb for 24/25. Shipments last week at 12.6 mb were below the 16.8 mb pace needed per week to reach the USDA export goal of 725 mb for 23/24.
- Egypt cancelled an international wheat tender according to GASC (their state grain buyer). No purchase was made, but the reasoning for the cancelation was not given. However, it is believed that the offers may have been too high priced.
- Despite news of one of the worst Russian strikes against Ukraine so far, it did not seem to affect the wheat market. At this point, it is likely that only a disruption to actual vessels or trade routes would factor in war premium. In the face of the risks, President Zelensky of Ukraine said that they have exported 12 million tons of cargo via their own corridor since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
- According to the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange, Argentina’s wheat crop is now 70.9% harvested, compared with 65.2% last week. The production estimate was unchanged at 14.7 mmt. For reference, last year 12.2 mmt of wheat was collected.
- The USDA reported that as of December 26, about 30% of the US winter wheat production area is experiencing drought conditions. This compares to last year when 69% of the crop was experiencing drought.
Action Plan: Chicago Wheat
Calls
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Cash
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Puts
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Chicago Wheat Action Plan Summary
- No new action is currently recommended for 2023 Chicago wheat. Between late July and the end of November, front month Chicago wheat trended lower, driven mostly by weak US demand and lower world wheat prices. During that time, and as managed funds established most of their short position of nearly 120,000 contracts, the market became extremely oversold. Since then, as the market rallied to a high of 649 ½, China made several US SRW wheat purchases, and funds covered more than 23,000 short contracts. During that runup, Grain Market Insider recommended making an additional sale to take advantage of the elevated prices in case the rally was temporary since US wheat prices remain elevated relative to other world exporters, despite the increase in demand. If the market remains strong and continues to rally, Grain Market Insider will consider potential re-ownership strategies to protect current sales and add confidence to make additional sales at higher prices.
- No new action is recommended for 2024 Chicago wheat. From the end of July, the July ’24 contract has slowly stepped its way down to a low of 586 in sympathy with the front month contract where managed money established a large short position during that time. Since then, July ’24 rallied alongside the March ’24 contract, as the funds covered over 30k contracts of their nearly 130k short contract position. While bearish headwinds remain, the funds continue to carry a large short position and seasonals remain supportive for the addition of weather risk premium, which are two factors that could fuel further short covering and another leg up in prices. At the end of August, Grain Market Insider recommended purchasing July 590 puts to prepare for further price erosion. Back in June, Grain Market Insider recommended two separate sales that averaged about 720 to take advantage of the brief upswing. If the market receives the needed stimulus to move prices back toward this summer’s highs, Grain Market Insider is prepared to recommend adding to current sales levels and possibly even purchasing call options to protect those sales. Otherwise, the current recommended put position will add a layer of protection if prices erode further, and Grain Market Insider will be prepared to recommend covering some of those puts to offset much of the original cost and move toward a net neutral cost for the remaining position.
- No action is currently recommended for 2025 Chicago Wheat. Grain Market Insider isn’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2025 crop that will be planted next fall. It will probably be mid-winter before Grain Market Insider starts considering the first sales targets.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Chicago wheat recommendations:
Above: After rallying to 649 ½, Chicago wheat became overbought and turned lower after the December 8 USDA report. Since then, the market has found nearby support near 600. Nearby resistance remains overhead near 650, with additional resistance between 660 and 665. If the market breaks nearby support, it may test the 50-day moving average, and then support near 556.
Action Plan: KC Wheat
Calls
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Cash
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Puts
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
KC Wheat Action Plan Summary
- No new action is recommended for 2023 KC wheat crop. Since late July old crop KC wheat has been in a downtrend that has largely been driven by managed fund selling on low world wheat prices and weak US export demand. As the selloff progressed, the market became oversold, and the funds established the largest short position in three years. Even though bullish headwinds remain, these two factors have fueled the recent short-covering rally, which could extend much further if a bullish catalyst enters the market. This would also line up with the historical tendency for price appreciation as the market builds risk premium going into wintertime. Grain Market Insider’s strategy is to look for price appreciation going into this winter, as weather becomes a more prominent market mover and may consider suggesting additional sales if prices become over extended.
- No new action is recommended for 2024 KC wheat. At the end of August, the July ’24 contract broke out of roughly a one-year trading range and stepped down to a 609 ¼ low in late November, largely driven by managed fund selling in the front month on weak US export demand and lower world wheat prices. Since then, the funds covered part of their large short position which also rallied prices in the July ’24 contract. While bearish headwinds remain, managed funds continue to hold a sizable, short position, and price seasonals remain positive for adding weather risk premium. These are two factors that could fuel additional short covering and rally prices in the months ahead. Back in August, Grain Market Insider recommended buying Jul’24 KC wheat 660 puts to protect the downside following the range breakout. As the market recently got further extended into oversold territory and the July contract showed signs of support near 630, Grain Market Insider recommended exiting 75% of the originally recommended position. Moving forward, Grain Market Insider is prepared to recommend exiting the last 25% on any further supportive market developments.
- No action is currently recommended for 2025 KC Wheat. Grain Market Insider isn’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2025 crop that will be planted next fall. It will probably be mid-winter before Insider starts considering the first sales targets.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following KC recommendations:
Above: March KC wheat has been consolidating since early December and closing over the 50-moving average signals that the market may be moving higher. If so, overhead resistance remains between 675 – 680, around the December high. To the downside, initial support remains near 625, with the next area of support around 595 and 575.
Action Plan: Mpls Wheat
Calls
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Cash
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Puts
2023
No New Action
2024
No New Action
2025
No New Action
Mpls Wheat Action Plan Summary
- No new action is currently recommended for the 2023 New Crop. Following last July’s rally, the market has slowly stair-stepped lower, primarily due to low world wheat prices, weak US export demand, and managed fund selling. With the funds building a record large short position as the market sold off. Since weak US export demand remains the main impediment to higher prices, the market continues to be at risk of further downside erosion. The record large fund short position could fuel a rally back higher if a bullish catalyst enters the scene, and if that happens, it may signal that a near-term low is in place. Earlier this year, Grain Market Insider made a sales recommendation during the July rally near 820, and with that sale in place, Grain Market Insider’s strategy is to look for price appreciation this winter with an eye on considering additional sales around 725 – 775, and again north of 800. If at that point the market remains strong and continues to rally, Grain Market Insider will consider potential re-ownership strategies to protect current sales and add confidence to make additional sales at higher prices.
- No new action is recommended for 2024 Minneapolis wheat. At the end of August, the Sept ’24 contract traded to a peak of 871 ¾ and has continued to slowly stair-step lower, largely driven by lower world wheat prices, weak US export demand, and managed fund selling, and as the selloff progressed, the funds built up a record large short position. While bearish headwinds remain, the significant oversold condition of the market and the large fund net short position are two factors that could fuel a short-covering rally in the months ahead. Price seasonals are also supportive as prices tend to build in some risk premium going into the winter months. Back in August, Grain Market Insider recommended buying July ’24 KC wheat 660 puts to protect the downside following a 1-year range breakout in KC wheat. Though recently, as the KC market extended further into oversold territory and the July ‘24 KC wheat contract showed signs of support near 630, Grain Market Insider recommended exiting 75% of the originally recommended position. While in the same time frame, Grain Market Insider also recommended making an additional sale as the Sept ’24 Minneapolis contract broke long time 743 support. For now, moving forward, Grain Market Insider is prepared to recommend exiting the last 25% of the open puts on any further supportive market developments.
- No action is currently recommended for the 2025 Minneapolis wheat crop. Grain Market Insider isn’t considering any recommendations at this time for the 2025 crop that will be planted two springs from now. It will probably be mid-winter before Grain Market Insider starts considering the first sales targets.
To date, Grain Market Insider has issued the following Minneapolis wheat recommendations:
Above: After making a new contract low on November 27, the March contract found buying interest from its oversold status and record fund short. Since then, the market posted a bearish reversal on December 6, showing significant resistance in the 750 area. If prices can break through upside resistance, they could run toward 790. If prices retreat, nearby support could be found around 718, with further support near the recent low of 697 ½.
Other Charts / Weather
Brazil 1 week forecast total precipitation courtesy of the National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center.
Argentina 1 week forecast total precipitation courtesy of the National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center.