DTN Midday Grain Comments     05/20 10:56

   All Grains Higher at Midday

   Broadly firmer trade on weather concerns to start the week.

By David Fiala
DTN Contributing Analyst

 General Comments

   The U.S. stock market indices are weaker with the Dow 65 points lower. The 
interest rate products are firmer. The dollar index is 6 lower. Energies are 
mostly higher with crude up 0.45. Livestock trade is weaker after early mixed 
trade. Precious metals are lower with gold up 1.50. 

   CORN

   Corn trade is 5 to 7 cents higher at midday with the wetter forecast 
continuing to add support ahead of the planting progress report this afternoon. 
Wet weather is expected to remain in place for much of the western and central 
Corn Belt. Ethanol margins are narrowing fast with ethanol futures unable to 
keep pace with the corn rally even as it moves closer to $1.38 a gallon. Basis 
has seen selling pressure from farmer movement. The weekly export inspections 
softened a bit at 820,916 metric tons. On the weekly crop progress report, 
trade will be watching to see how close we are to 50% complete. On the July 
nearby chart support is the 200-day at $3.86 3/4 that we moved through 
overnight with the next level of resistance the day high at $3.91 1/2, then 
$4.00.

   SOYBEANS

   Soybean trade is 10 to 12 cents higher with trade rebounding from selling on 
Friday with support from the grains and weather. Meal is $2.50 to $3.50 higher 
and oil is 25 to 35 points higher. Crush margins remain solidly positive 
overall with meal still looking to reconsolidate above $300. South American 
currencies remain cheap at the end of harvest, but rising basis is helping U.S. 
offset somewhat. Field work should generally remain slow in the near term but 
more progress is likely into next week with little incentive for farmers to 
push right now along with acres possibly shifting to corn or milo. Trade talks 
are expected to continue, but little progress is expected in the near term 
along with further talk about trade aid. Weekly export inspections remain slow 
at 497,070 metric tons. Weekly crop progress will be expected to show planting 
well behind normal. The July chart support is the $7.96 lower Bollinger Band 
with the $7.91 low below that, and the resistance the 10-day at $8.24, which we 
are back above at midday, with the next round the 20-day at $8.24.

   WHEAT

   Wheat trade is 10 to 17 cents higher with Kansas City trade leading as the 
spread vs. Chicago continues to reverse with trade moving from 51 to 43 cents 
the last couple of trading sessions. Europe and the Black Sea area will be 
watched with dryness in the Volga Valley, and wet weather in the U.S. 
potentially limiting planting and causing disease issues in the winter wheat. 
The dollar remains rangebound. Hard red wheat is working into feed rations in 
some areas with the bounce in corn values with the wheat rally looking to 
change that. The weekly export inspections were strong again at 757,704 metric 
tons. The weekly crop progress report is expected to show steady conditions and 
lagging maturity with spring wheat progress closer to normal, with challenging 
near-term conditions. On the July Kansas City chart, support is the 50-day we 
moved through overnight with the 100-day at $4.64 the next round up.

   David Fiala is a DTN contributing analyst and the President of FuturesOne 
and a registered adviser
He can be reached at dfiala@futuresone.com 
Follow him on Twitter @davidfiala


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