Builders are hammering away at more new houses than at any time since before last decade’s foreclosure crisis, and the construction boom is driving up lumber prices. Lumber prices have declined sharply from the record highs in early 2018 but have seen a bit of an increase lately. The graph below shows two measures of …
The Hottest Home-Construction Market Since 2006 Lifting Lumber Read More »
Soybean traders continue to debate the risk and uncertainty of the coronavirus. I hate to sound like a broken-record the past several sessions but I believe the virus will continue to be a fairly significant headwind and obstacle we hadn’t accounted for. the problem is we have no idea how long this storm will last? I …
Global and U.S. prices fell into bear-market territory yesterday, generally defined as a -20% decline from a recent peak. The fall marked a rapid reversal from three weeks ago, when escalating tensions in the Middle East drove prices to fresh highs. I’ve included a chart below that shows the recent fallout in crude oil. Prices …
Why You Should Be Paying Close Attention to Crude Oil Read More »
Iowa is holding one of the most anticipated events of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election today – “the Iowa caucuses”. The election isn’t until November, but the first major hurdle for the Democratic candidates is the Iowa caucuses. This is where voters begin whittling down the pool of candidates to what will eventually be just …
We are now approaching +10,000 infected globally, which surpassed that of the SARS epidemic over a year long period (2002-2003). There are now a reported +213 dead, which is another +25% jump. There are now thought to be 100 confirmed cases of infection outside mainland China in at least 18 countries. Reuters reported that China’s Shandong …
Tractors manufactured in the late 1970s and 1980s are some of the hottest items in farm auctions across the Midwest these days and it’s not because they’re antiques. Other than the software on modern equipment, tractors from that era aren’t that different from those produced in the 2000s, but that software is creating repair headwinds …
Please remember this in NOT a solicitation to buy, sell or trade any commodity. This is simply Andy’s personal opinion about the current market conditions. There is considerable risk in trading and you should always consult with your individual licensed broker. A few observations from the USDA Numbers on Jan 12th: Yield was raised slightly, …
An article in The Economist recently noted that the World Bank has estimated that as much as 90% of the economic damage from epidemics stems from people’s fear of associating with others, which leads offices and stores to close. In China, this is being magnified by the government’s lockdown of over 50 million people in …
Why the Lockdown of China’s Hubei Province is so Concerning Read More »
Tesla’s stock surged as much as +13% in extended trading yesterday after the company reported strong fourth-quarter results that beat analysts’ estimates. Tesla said it expects positive cash flow and net income going forward. Vehicle deliveries should also “comfortably exceed 500,000 units,” in 2020. The company also said it planned to allocate the same amount …
Tesla Reports Second Profitable Quarter in a Row, Promises Record Production Read More »
It was on this day back in 1936, the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame elected its first members in Cooperstown, New York: Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson, and Walter Johnson. The Hall of Fame actually had its beginnings in 1935, when plans were made to build a museum devoted to baseball and …
Baseball Hall of Fame… Who Got Selected for 2020! Read More »
