Soy, wheat decline as dollar gains, reducing appeal US crops
Friday, 12 March 2010
SINGAPORE, Mar 11 (Bloomberg): Soybeans and wheat declined in Chicago on speculation a stronger dollar may reduce the appeal of US crop supplies to investors and importers.
Soybeans for May delivery lost as much as 0.8 per cent to $9.505 a bushel before trading at $9.5375 at 3:07 pm Singapore time. Wheat for May delivery fell 0.3 per cent to $4.80 a bushel.
The Dollar Index, which tracks the value of the greenback against six major currencies, rose 0.1 per cent to 80.523 after China's inflation reached a 16-month high, industrial output climbed and new loans exceeded forecasts, raising concern the world's third-largest economy may raise interest rates.
"The influence of the dollar is huge on these grains," Ben Barber, a futures adviser at Bell Commodities Ltd said from Sydney. Investors may be moving their money into the dollar and away from commodities, damping grain and oilseed prices, he said. "A lot of it has to do with speculative money."
Soybean prices may drop to $8.50 a bushel in May or June as global output expands, Oil World Executive Director Thomas Mielke said at a palm oil conference in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.
The US Department of Agriculture raised its estimate on global soybean output this year to 255.9 million tonnes Wednesday, from 255.02 million tonnes a month earlier, boosting the ending stockpiles. The estimate was raised as the USDA increased its forecast on the Brazil crop to 67 million tonnes, from 66 million tonnes, while paring its outlook on the crops in India.
The USDA estimate on the Brazilian crop compares with the South American nation's forecast of 67.6 million tonnes on March 9.
Corn rose for the first time in six sessions on concern that cold, wet weather last month may hamper planting work in the US, the world's largest exporter.
Corn for May delivery rose as much 0.7 per cent, to $3.68 a bushel in Chicago and traded at $3.6575 at 3:05 pm Singapore time. The price fell to a one-month low Wednesday after the US government said inventories before this year's harvest will be bigger than forecast.
"Corn may not fall any further as investors may start buying on concern over delayed planting," said Han Sung Min, a broker at Korea Exchange Bank Futures Co. in Seoul. "The focus of the market is now moving on to planting and new crop."
Average temperatures last month were 8 degrees Fahrenheit lower than normal and rainfall in Texas was more than double the normal average, Texas AgriLife said March 9 in a report.
Soybeans for May delivery lost as much as 0.8 per cent to $9.505 a bushel before trading at $9.5375 at 3:07 pm Singapore time. Wheat for May delivery fell 0.3 per cent to $4.80 a bushel.
The Dollar Index, which tracks the value of the greenback against six major currencies, rose 0.1 per cent to 80.523 after China's inflation reached a 16-month high, industrial output climbed and new loans exceeded forecasts, raising concern the world's third-largest economy may raise interest rates.
"The influence of the dollar is huge on these grains," Ben Barber, a futures adviser at Bell Commodities Ltd said from Sydney. Investors may be moving their money into the dollar and away from commodities, damping grain and oilseed prices, he said. "A lot of it has to do with speculative money."
Soybean prices may drop to $8.50 a bushel in May or June as global output expands, Oil World Executive Director Thomas Mielke said at a palm oil conference in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday.
The US Department of Agriculture raised its estimate on global soybean output this year to 255.9 million tonnes Wednesday, from 255.02 million tonnes a month earlier, boosting the ending stockpiles. The estimate was raised as the USDA increased its forecast on the Brazil crop to 67 million tonnes, from 66 million tonnes, while paring its outlook on the crops in India.
The USDA estimate on the Brazilian crop compares with the South American nation's forecast of 67.6 million tonnes on March 9.
Corn rose for the first time in six sessions on concern that cold, wet weather last month may hamper planting work in the US, the world's largest exporter.
Corn for May delivery rose as much 0.7 per cent, to $3.68 a bushel in Chicago and traded at $3.6575 at 3:05 pm Singapore time. The price fell to a one-month low Wednesday after the US government said inventories before this year's harvest will be bigger than forecast.
"Corn may not fall any further as investors may start buying on concern over delayed planting," said Han Sung Min, a broker at Korea Exchange Bank Futures Co. in Seoul. "The focus of the market is now moving on to planting and new crop."
Average temperatures last month were 8 degrees Fahrenheit lower than normal and rainfall in Texas was more than double the normal average, Texas AgriLife said March 9 in a report.