GRAIN HIGHLIGHTS: Top Stories of the Day
June 04 2018 - 4:47PM
Dow Jones News
TOP STORIES:
Corn, Soybean Crops in Good Condition -- Market Talk
16:31 ET - The U.S. crop season continues its strong start. The
USDA says that 78% of the corn crop was in good or excellent
condition as of Sunday, in line with expectations and above last
year's 68% good-or-excellent rating. Soybeans are rated 75% good or
excellent. After a slow start to planting, Midwestern farmers have
mostly enjoyed good weather for fieldwork and crop growth. Though
early, those conditions have pressured prices as traders bet that's
more likely to translate into higher yields. (
benjamin.parkin@wsj.com; @b_parkyn)
Grain, Soybean Futures Tumble on China Tension
Grain and soybean futures started the week lower as increased
trade tensions and a better weather outlook left traders mulling
the prospect of a larger surplus next season.
Talks aimed at resolving a recent trade dispute between China
and the U.S. over the weekend amounted to little, increasing the
prospect that Beijing would levy duties on American agricultural
exports. The prospect that crops could also fall into Mexico and
Canada's crosshairs in retaliation for U.S. metal duties added to
the pessimistic sentiment.
STORIES OF INTEREST:
Mexico Conditions Bayer's Acquisition of Monsanto -- Market
Talk
14:09 ET - Mexican antitrust authorities approved Bayer AG's
acquisition of Monsanto on the condition--proposed by the
companies--that they sell genetically modified cottonseed,
vegetable seeds, and some herbicides businesses to Germany's BASF.
The competition commission said that without the conditions, Bayer
would become Mexico's only supplier of genetically modified
cottonseed and gain significant market share in seeds for crops
including onions, cucumbers, water melon and lettuce, as well as
some herbicides, possibly pushing up prices for growers and
discouraging innovation and research. BASF "has the capacity and
the incentives to compete vigorously in the markets in question,"
the commission said. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
Agco, Monsanto Will Jointly Defend Deere Lawsuit -- Market
Talk
11:18 ET - Farm equipment maker Agco says it will join forces
with Monsanto to defend a patent infringement lawsuit filed by
Deere over seed-planting technology used by Agco's Precision
Planting business. "Any claim that alleges products made or sold by
Precision Planting infringe on Deere patents are believed to be
without merit and will be vigorously disputed," Agco says in
response to a complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in
Delaware. Agco acquired Precision last year from Monsanto after
Deere abandoned its attempt to purchase the business under pressure
from U.S. regulators because of market competition concerns.
(robert.tita@wsj.com; @bob_tita)
THE MARKETS:
Livestock Futures Fall on Trade Tension -- Market Talk
14:52 ET - Livestock futures started the week lower as
intensifying trade tensions clouded the outlook for an oversupplied
domestic meat market. Meetings between senior U.S. and Chinese
officials over the weekend amounted to little, as both parties came
away without making concessions. For pork producers, who have
already been targeted by Chinese duties, the lack of resolution was
particularly painful. Pork exports to China have dropped off even
as domestic production is set for a record. The threat of tariffs
also hangs over beef producers, who had hoped to see exports to
China grow. CME June lean hog futures were little changed, while
the more-active July contract fell 1.1% to 77.925 cents a pound.
Cattle futures were also lower. (benjamin.parkin@wsj.com;
@b_parkyn)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 04, 2018 17:32 ET (21:32 GMT)
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