DTN Midday Grain Comments     02/27 11:01

   Mixed Grains at Midday

   Corn is 5 to 6 cents lower, soybeans are 1 to 3 cents higher, and wheat is 3 
to 7 cents lower. 

By David Fiala
DTN Contributing Analyst

 General Comments

   

   

   The U.S. stock market is weaker with the Dow down 650. The dollar index is 
39 lower. Interest rate products are weaker. Energies are weaker with crude 
down $1.60. Livestock trade is sharply lower. Precious metals are mixed with 
gold up $7.80.

   CORN

   Corn trade is 5 to 6 cents lower at midday with trade seeing broad weakness 
again as virus fears continue to roil the market. Ethanol margins remain tight 
with more pressure on blender margins with the pressure in the energy complex. 
Corn basis remains steady, with little change in recent days but more open 
weather should help movement along with March basis contracts coming due this 
week. Weekly export sales were on the lower end of the recent range at 864,300 
metric tons of old crop, and 113,600 metric tons of new. On the March contract 
support is the lower Bollinger Band and the fresh lows at $3.66 marked today, 
with resistance at the lower Bollinger band at $3.73, which are just below.

   SOYBEANS

   Soybean trade is 1 to 3 cents higher with soybeans coming sharply off the 
lows with meal leading the complex. Meal is $3.00 to $4.00 higher and oil is 10 
to 20 points lower. South America remains a bit off normal harvest pace but 
issues overall are limited with Argentina export tax changes the biggest news. 
The Brazilian ral remains very cheap as well hurting U.S. export 
competitiveness near term with new lows scored this week. New crop soybeans 
will need to gain vs. corn to provide an acreage incentive ahead of planting in 
the U.S. with positive action so far this week. Weekly export sales were soft 
at 393,300 metric tons of old crop, 22,100 of new, meal was 157,500 of meal, 
and 5,600 of oil. The March soybean chart support is the lower Bollinger band 
at $8.69, with resistance the 20-day at $8.85, which we are tested before 
fading again.

   Wheat trade is 2 to 6 cents lower with spring wheat trade holding up the 
best so far this a.m. Weather threats for the plains remain limited with mostly 
warmer short-term weather after the recent rain and snow. KC is at an 85-cent 
discount to Chicago, with choppy action so far while Minneapolis is back to a 
25 cent discount as well, widening back from the early week action. Partial 
condition reports Monday showed no major issues so far for the Plains states. 
World export business has been quieter in recent days with weekly sales were 
range bound at 381,300 metric tons of old crop, and 68,100 of new. The March 
Kansas City chart support is $4.42 with resistance the lower Bollinger Band at 
$4.54.

   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


(AG)

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