Midday Movers

Here's what's moving the markets so far today.

Prices as of 10:00 AM CT (about 10 min delayed) · change vs. yesterday's close

• Corn (Dec): $4.63/bu, down 4¢ (-0.86%)
  • Why: Corn Market Under Pressure on Weak US Exports and Advancing Harvest. Soybeans (-0.26%) and wheat (-0.69%) were lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 4.62¼–4.68½ · Week: down 19¾¢ (-4.09%)
• Soybeans (Nov): $12.50¼/bu, down 3¼¢ (-0.26%)
  • Why: Soybeans under pressure as US harvest and Brazil planting accelerate. Corn (-0.86%) and wheat (-0.69%) were lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 12.49¼–12.59½ · Week: down 33½¢ (-2.61%)
• Wheat (Dec): $6.50¾/bu, down 4½¢ (-0.69%)
  • Why: Chicago Grain Futures Close Lower as Corn Leads Losses, Soybeans and Wheat Retreat. Corn (-0.86%) was lower too, so the selling was across the grain market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 6.50¼–6.62 · Week: down 18½¢ (-2.76%)
• Live Cattle (Dec): $228.70/cwt, up $0.675 (+0.30%)
  • Why: Live cattle futures reach 10-week high on tight beef supplies.
  • Today's range: 227.625–228.975 · Week: up $2.325 (+1.03%)
• Feeder Cattle (Jan): $340.40/cwt, up $0.475 (+0.14%)
  • Why: Live cattle futures reach 10-week high on tight beef supplies. Live cattle (+0.30%) were higher too, so the buying was across the livestock market. Corn was down 0.86%, which lowers feed costs for feeder buyers. It's trading near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 338.325–340.425 · Week: up $4.55 (+1.35%)
• Lean Hogs (Dec): $66.40/cwt, up $0.05 (+0.08%)
  • Why: No single news story drove hogs higher today. Live cattle (+0.30%) were higher too, so the buying was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 66.25–66.80 · Week: down $1.625 (-2.39%)
• Crude Oil (Dec): $95.87/bbl, down $2.67 (-2.71%)
  • Why: RBOB Gasoline futures trade near 3-week lows as prices decouple from crude. Diesel (-2.05%) was lower too, so the selling was across the energy market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 95.25–101.37 · Week: up $2.70 (+2.90%)
• Heating Oil (Dec): $4.6290/gal, down 9.7¢ (-2.05%)
  • Why: WTI crude squeezed between Hormuz risk and diesel ban speculation. Crude oil (-2.71%) was lower too, so the selling was across the energy market. It's trading near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 4.6030–4.8021 · Week: down 14.76¢ (-3.09%)
• Natural Gas (Nov): $2.987/MMBtu, down $0.071 (-2.32%)
  • Why: US Natural Gas Falls on Warmer Outlook, Growing Storage Surplus.
  • Today's range: 2.967–3.046 · Week: down $0.296 (-9.02%)
• Gold (Dec): $4,160.40/oz, up $0.30 (+0.01%)
  • Why: Gold, silver prices rise as traders pare bets on October Fed rate hike. Silver (+1.99%) was higher too, so the buying was across the metals market.
  • Today's range: 4,130.10–4,174.90 · Week: down $16.90 (-0.40%)
• Silver (Dec): $58.415/oz, up $1.14 (+1.99%)
  • Why: Gold, silver prices rise as traders pare bets on October Fed rate hike. It's trading near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 56.51–58.76 · Week: down $1.11 (-1.86%)
• Copper (Dec): $6.6170/lb, up 4.15¢ (+0.63%)
  • Why: Copper Rises Amid Strong China Data.
  • Today's range: 6.5275–6.6485 · Week: down 10.9¢ (-1.62%)

Yesterday's official settlements

The 2:00 report goes out before the exchange posts settlements. Today's changes are figured from these official numbers.

• Corn (Dec) settled at $4.67/bu (Mon), not the $4.66¾/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Soybeans (Nov) settled at $12.53½/bu (Mon), not the $12.53/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Wheat (Dec) settled at $6.55¼/bu (Mon), not the $6.56/bu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Live Cattle (Dec) settled at $228.025/cwt (Mon), not the $227.975/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Lean Hogs (Dec) settled at $66.35/cwt (Mon), not the $66.475/cwt last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Crude Oil (Dec) settled at $98.54/bbl (Mon), not the $98.33/bbl last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Heating Oil (Dec) settled at $4.7260/gal (Mon), not the $4.7110/gal last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Natural Gas (Nov) settled at $3.058/MMBtu (Mon), not the $3.046/MMBtu last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Gold (Dec) settled at $4,160.10/oz (Mon), not the $4,168.00/oz last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Silver (Dec) settled at $57.275/oz (Mon), not the $57.47/oz last trade in that day's 2:00 report.
• Copper (Dec) settled at $6.5755/lb (Mon), not the $6.5915/lb last trade in that day's 2:00 report.

USDA crop progress (out yesterday afternoon)

• Corn: 44% harvested (+11 pts in a week, 8 pts behind the 5-year average (52%)). 56% rated good to excellent, unchanged from last week.
• Winter wheat: 39% emerged (+12 pts in a week, 4 pts behind the 5-year average (43%)).
• Soybeans: 64% harvested (+18 pts in a week, 1 pts behind the 5-year average (65%)).
• Pasture & range: 23% rated good to excellent, up 1 from last week.

State-by-state progress and condition

Livestock price insurance (USDA LRP, prices for Oct 19)

• Feeder steers 600-1,000 lb, ending Jan 18: 95% coverage at $323.00/cwt costs you about $3.54/cwt after the USDA subsidy (down $0.25 from last week; coverage price down $27.78 from a year ago).
• Fed cattle, ending Jan 18: 95% coverage at $219.45/cwt costs you about $2.22/cwt after the USDA subsidy (down $0.12 from last week; coverage price down $13.08 from a year ago).
• Hogs, ending Jan 18: 95% coverage at $64.31/cwt costs you about $1.43/cwt after the USDA subsidy (down $0.03 from last week; coverage price down $15.18 from a year ago).

LRP calculator and screwworm border status

Informational only — not investment, trading or financial advice. Prices may be delayed.