U.S. ethanol producers seek reforms as markets plunge, ADM sells

New York/Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. ethanol producers stung by collapsing prices are seeking changes to the way benchmark values for the biofuel are established, arguing the current system used by exchanges is vulnerable to manipulation, according to sources. The push comes as the key farm belt industry struggles with weak demand growth, a loss[...]

ADM ramps up ethanol sales in Chicago, irking rivals

New York/Chicago | Reuters -- Archer Daniels Midland has sold unusually high volumes of ethanol into the Chicago market since late last year as export markets dried up, driving down prices in the U.S. Midwest and angering the company's rivals, according to traders and regulatory data. The Illinois-based global commodities powerhouse, a major ethanol producer,[...]


U.S. grains: Chicago wheat sharply lower in technical sell-off

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Board of Trade wheat fell nearly two per cent on Thursday in a technical sell-off amid outlooks for rain in the parched U.S. Plains crop belt, traders and analysts said. Disappointing weekly U.S. wheat export sales added to headwinds, with CBOT May wheat dropping 10 cents to $4.78-3/4 per bushel,[...]

U.S. grains: Wheat hits two-week low on spreading

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Board of Board of Trade wheat futures fell to a roughly two-week low on Monday while MGEX spring wheat gained one per cent in wheat spreading as dry conditions stressed the spring wheat crop in the northern U.S. Plains, traders said. Investors were selling most-active CBOT wheat and buying MGEX[...]


U.S. livestock: Cattle hit 2-1/2-week highs

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. live cattle futures jumped to a 2-1/2 week peak on Tuesday while lean hogs were mostly higher on support from investment fund buying linked to big gains in wholesale beef prices, traders and analysts said. Most-active Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle futures gained for the fifth straight session, settling[...]

U.S. livestock: Cattle gain on higher beef prices, lower corn

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. cattle futures rose about one per cent on Friday, with feeder cattle extending gains to the third straight session as wholesale beef prices rose and corn prices fell. Higher prices for meat and lower prices for animal feed boost profits in the cattle sector. Greening pastures also increased demand for[...]


U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle up one per cent

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. feeder cattle futures gained one per cent and live cattle futures were narrowly higher on Thursday amid rising demand for animals, especially for grazing, traders and analysts said. Greening pastures in the Plains region boosted demand for lighter-weight cattle to feed on grass, with beef packers aggressively buying slaughter-weight cattle[...]

First U.S. trader convicted of spoofing sentenced to jail

Chicago | Reuters -- A U.S. judge sentenced futures trader Michael Coscia to three years in prison on Wednesday, a lighter punishment than prosecutors had sought for the first person criminally convicted of the manipulative trading practice of spoofing. Coscia also was sentenced to two years of supervised release from jail, in a case that[...]


U.S. grains: Soy, corn ease from six-week highs

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S soybeans and corn futures fell on Wednesday, pressured by profit-taking after recent six-week highs and outlooks for needed rains in South America. Wheat settled narrowly higher at the Chicago Board of Trade after a more than one per cent drop in the dollar against a basket of currencies made U.S.[...]

U.S. grains: Corn up on bargain buying after five-week low

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. corn, soybean and wheat futures rose on Tuesday, rebounding from earlier losses on technical buying and bargain hunting even as autumn harvests advanced more quickly than usual under dry weather conditions. Corn jumped from a five-week low and soybeans gained for the first time in five sessions. Wheat bounced from[...]