The Bank of Canada increased the target interest rate today by 0.25%, to 1.5%. This is now the fourth rate hike, amounting to 1%, since the Bank hiked rates for the first time since 2007 a year ago. Over the last year, the Bank of Canada has matched the aggressiveness of the U.S. Federal Reserve,… Read more »
Tag: Matthew Pot
Soybeans exports a major concern for farmers in U.S.-China trade battle
As the U.S. attempts to fix its trade grievances with China, farmers watching a falling commodity market are having their patience tested. U.S President Donald Trump’s biggest grievance is the trade imbalance that the U.S. has with China. As you can see below, in 2017 the U.S. exported US$129.9 billion in goods to China while… Read more »
Higher spring wheat and lower soybean acres headline USDA planting intentions report
Add over a million acres of spring wheat, and subtract more than two million acres of soybeans… There were a few surprises in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Prospective Plantings report published on Thursday. The department pegged soybean acres at 89.0 million acres — more than two million below the average trade estimate of 91.1 million,… Read more »
Does agriculture have a favourite in the Ontario PC race?
The Ontario Progressive Conservative party is scheduled to announce its new leader on Saturday afternoon. After all the theatre surrounding Patrick Brown resigning, then entering the race to replace himself, then dropping out, party members have been left with four choices to lead the PCs into the Ontario election in June: Caroline Mulroney, Christine Elliott, Doug Ford,… Read more »
High supply, mixed export numbers: an analysis of the latest WASDE report
Today’s updated World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was by no means a market mover. But, it does pose some questions for the market to digest. Starting with the U.S. Supply and Demand, it was, for the most part, fully influenced by adjustments in export demand. 2017/18 U.S. corn ending stocks estimates were… Read more »
Canadian GDP shows better growth; interest rates may edge higher
Wednesday was a big day for economic news in both Canada and also for our friends south of the border, in the United States. Here at home, the market is digesting the most recent GDP data for November, while the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee made the decision to hold interest rates in the country…. Read more »
Currency Wars — where is the U.S. dollar really headed?
Last week there were reasons for confusion on what direction the American dollar might take based on White House policy. Most of the confusion last week was driven by comments made by different members of the White House team. “It’s interesting, it’s almost like currency wars at the moment,” says Matthew Pot of Grain Perspectives… Read more »
Bank of Canada announcement causes brief volatility in the Canadian dollar
The Bank of Canada raised target rates this morning by 0.25 percent. The Canadian dollar (CAD) initially responded by falling over a half cent, but closed the day slightly higher. While rate hike announcements tend to inspire a bullish dollar, what is often overlooked is what the market was expecting prior to the announcement. In… Read more »
Poll: What’s your bias for wheat, soybeans & corn markets heading into the January USDA report?
The USDA will release one of its most anticipated reports on Friday — the January World Agricultural Supply/Demand Estimates or WASDE. Some analysts have referred to it as the Super Bowl of USDA reports. As in sports, the pregame discussions and speculation can be almost as much fun as analyzing the score(s) after the fact…. Read more »
Reflections on 2017 and forecasts for the new year
This December, to recognize the year that has passed, and to look to the start of 2018, we decided to create a short questionnaire for a few of our many, valued contributors. Andrew Campbell is a dairy farmer, owner of Fresh Air Media, and a contributor to the site, often writing on advocacy and marketing…. Read more »
Corn School: Looking for profit in the 2018 market
Big yields, big carryouts and little volatility. It’s a corn market story that’s been with us for two years and may persist throughout 2018. In this edition of RealAgriculture Corn School, Grain Perspectives market consultant Matthew Pot takes a look at what growers can expect from the corn market in 2018. “With huge U.S. supplies,… Read more »
Cereals outlook: What will it take to move the wheat market?
Weather events, political drama, and moisture concerns in the Dakotas and Western Canada. They’re all factors that could move the wheat market in 2018. It’s just a case of where, when and to what extend. In this report from the recent Grain World conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Matthew Pot is joined by Rhyl Doyle from… Read more »
Oilseed outlook: Chinese demand will continue to support soy price
China’s insatiable appetite for soybeans will continue to provide support for the oilseed crop through the next year. It will also be the catalyst for soybean acreage to surpass corn for the first time in 2018, says Bill Lapp, president of Advanced Economic Solutions. He shared his oilseed outlook during a panel discussion at the… Read more »
India committed to pea import duty, says broker
India’s decision to add a 50 percent import duty on peas is designed to help the country become self-sufficient in pulses, and the government appears to be steadfast in its commitment, says one of India’s largest international pulse brokers. Anurag Tulshan, managing director of Esarco Exim Pvt Ltd, told delegates attending the Grain World conference… Read more »
Bank of Canada announces earlier-than-expected interest rate hike
The Bank of Canada announced its second interest rate hike in two months, surprising analysts, and raising the target interest rate by one-quarter point to 1 percent. The last interest rate hike was announced in mid-July, and was the first increase the country had seen in over seven years. Many analysts had expected Bank of Canada… Read more »