Russia to pay subsidies to grain exporters

The Russian government will pay subsidies to grain exporters selected on a tender basis in order to guarantee exports of 10 million tonnes in the first half of 2009, the Agriculture Ministry said Dec. 3. “The subsidies will be offered on a tender basis to market players who will buy grain from producers on an

Human nature causes history to repeat

David Drozd Recent volatile price action is similar to that seen in the early 1970s when markets realigned into a new higher trading range. Examining these more than three-decade-old patterns can reveal clues about future price direction; history often repeats itself because human nature never changes. If history should repeat, similar to trading patterns seen


U. S. hogs end at six-week high as supplies abate

U. S. hog futures closed at their highest level in six weeks at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Nov. 28 as investors believe the flood of hogs that hit the market this fall is abating, which should mean higher cash markets in the weeks ahead. Cattle futures finished lower, largely the victim of selling by investors

U. S. House panel to monitor CDS clearinghouse pace

Futures exchanges from Chicago and New York will be asked to report in early December on their progress in forming clearinghouses to stabilize credit default swaps, a U. S. House of Representatives committee chairman said recently. The clearinghouses are regarded by U. S. regulators as a way to restore liquidity to the swaps market and


Fertilizer prices breach line of support

The news is always the most bullish at the top. In the last month or two we have all heard the news about higher fertilizer prices. Let’s take a look at this market from both a technical and fundamental perspective now that world fertilizer prices are easing. You may not be aware, but it is