Closing Report

Here's what pushed the markets today.

Prices at today's close, Wed Oct 21 · change vs. yesterday's settlement. Grains and livestock are the last trade before the close; the exchange's official settlement can differ by a tick, and the next 10:00 report confirms it. Energy and metals are still trading: 2:00 PM price.

• Corn (Dec): $4.64¼/bu, up 2¼¢ (+0.49%)
  • Why: No single news story drove corn higher today. It went against wheat (-2.33%), which was lower. It settled near the high of the day.
  • Today's range: 4.53½–4.64¾ · Week: down 16½¢ (-3.43%)
• Soybeans (Nov): $12.46¼/bu, down 2¢ (-0.16%)
  • Why: Chicago Grain Futures Close Lower as Harvest Pressure Hits Corn, Soybeans and Wheat. Wheat (-2.33%) was lower too, so the selling was across the grain market.
  • Today's range: 12.35¾–12.49 · Week: down 31¢ (-2.43%)
• Wheat (Dec): $6.28¼/bu, down 15¢ (-2.33%)
  • Why: Chicago Grain Futures Close Lower as Harvest Pressure Hits Corn, Soybeans and Wheat. It went against corn (+0.49%), which was higher.
  • Today's range: 6.21–6.43¾ · Week: down 45¢ (-6.68%)
• Live Cattle (Dec): $231.05/cwt, up $0.875 (+0.38%)
  • Why: Cattle futures hit multi-month highs on tight supplies. Feeder cattle (+0.77%) were higher too, so the buying was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 229.50–232.45 · Week: up $5.925 (+2.63%)
• Feeder Cattle (Nov): $348.95/cwt, up $2.65 (+0.77%)
  • Why: Cattle futures hit multi-month highs on tight supplies. Live cattle (+0.38%) were higher too, so the buying was across the livestock market.
  • Today's range: 345.85–350.75 · Week: up $10.50 (+3.10%)
• Lean Hogs (Dec): $65.75/cwt, down $1.40 (-2.08%)
  • Why: Daily Livestock Report: Pork Packer Margins Tighten as Cash Hog Prices Face Pressure. It went against live cattle (+0.38%), which were higher. It settled near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 65.70–66.825 · Week: down $0.325 (-0.49%)
• Crude Oil (Dec): $97.61/bbl, down $0.21 (-0.21%)
  • Why: Oil Futures Settle Lower in Volatile Session. Diesel (-2.70%) was lower too, so the selling was across the energy market.
  • Today's range: 96.26–100.40 · Week: up $3.71 (+3.95%)
• Heating Oil (Nov): $4.7920/gal, down 13.3¢ (-2.70%)
  • Why: Trump Makes Another Move to Pressure Oil Prices Ahead of Election: U.S. Plans to Lend One-Third of Heating Oil Reserves. Crude oil (-0.21%) was lower too, so the selling was across the energy market. It settled near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 4.7430–5.0335 · Week: down 13.54¢ (-2.75%)
• Natural Gas (Nov): $2.785/MMBtu, down $0.178 (-6.01%)
  • Why: Bearish Forecasts Prolong Natural Gas Futures Freefall. It settled near the low of the day.
  • Today's range: 2.780–3.004 · Week: down $0.413 (-12.91%)
• Gold (Dec): $4,147.30/oz, up $4.70 (+0.11%)
  • Why: No single news story drove gold higher today. It went against silver (-0.59%), which was lower.
  • Today's range: 4,124.00–4,160.60 · Week: up $39.40 (+0.96%)
• Silver (Dec): $57.66/oz, down $0.34 (-0.59%)
  • Why: Gold and silver prices decline in commodity markets.
  • Today's range: 57.235–58.415 · Week: up $1.785 (+3.19%)
• Copper (Dec): $6.5705/lb, down 3.3¢ (-0.50%)
  • Why: Can US copper warehouse inflows pressure Copper price?
  • Today's range: 6.5195–6.6265 · Week: down 9¢ (-1.35%)

On deck

• Thu: U.S. Drought Monitor, 7:30am CT
• Thu: USDA weekly Export Sales, 7:30am CT
• Thu: EIA natural gas storage, 9:30am CT
• Thu: USDA grain transportation data (barge, rail, ocean), 12:00pm CT

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