On Tuesday morning, we saw a sharp rise in stock indexes, metals, and energy markets. This came as our new Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Janet Yellen, testified before lawmakers about how the U.S. risks a more prolonged and more painful recession unless Congress approves more aid. ...

Moscow announced Friday morning that Russia is considering imposing a wheat export tax of $27 per ton to help stabilize domestic prices. A downgrade of the Russian crop size was at the center of the decision as Russia’s wheat crop is in poor condition. ...

Pfizer’s announcement that their COVID-19 vaccine tests indicated over 90-percent effectiveness opened the week with a flurry of buying in gasoline, diesel fuel, stock index futures, lumber, cattle, copper and cocoa. “Risk on” trades benefited from optimism that employment, and our U.S. ...

Gasoline futures shifted midweek from an upward bias to a downhill direction as record positive coronavirus cases plagued several European countries and U.S. states...

Wednesday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture report sent soybeans sailing higher as estimates of this year’s stockpile of beans came in under expectations. Continued good export sales and dry weather in most of the U.S. and much of Brazil contributed to the bullish sentiment as farmers and investors watch weather for further clues to the next big move...

Hog prices shot to a three-month high on Friday, trading over 60 cents per pound for the first time since May. Pork is getting pricier as foreign buyers, especially China, look to the U.S. to supply their meat demand. China lost millions of pigs last year to an epidemic, African swine fever, leaving them facing a pork shortage...

Commodities markets sprang to life this year, with unprecedented moves in crude oil, precious metals, lumber, and livestock prices. Although most of the initial volatility was directly related to coronavirus shutdowns, markets have continued wild action as global economies grapple with climate and political turbulence...

The huge rally in wood prices gained further momentum all week as quarantined homeowners ran to big box stores and lumberyards clamoring for supplies for framing fix-up projects. Building supply stores have been designated as essential businesses, remaining open throughout the pandemic...

Corn prices put on a dazzling display this week, exploding to three-month highs on the heels of a USDA report. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated its estimates of this year’s planted acreage and shocked markets with a drastic cut of 5 million corn acres...

Pig prices are grinding to new lows, with August lean hog futures dropping under 48 cents per pound on Friday. Back in early May, when the COVID outlook was optimistic, August hogs gained over 30% to reach 67 cents per pound, a sign that markets were expecting stronger demand by the end of the summer...

As more Americans begin resuming normal routines, they will be disappointed to see something else returning to normal: prices at the pump. Gasoline and diesel fuel prices have been exploding higher after bottoming out at the peak of the COVID-19 market panics...

The three most active stock market indexes (the Dow, NASDAQ, and the S&P 500) continued their upward rally last week until Thursday morning, at which point they began an extraordinary one-day tumble giving up half their massive climb which began in mid-May...

Markets were gleeful on Friday morning after a report showing 13.3% unemployment, the second-highest rate since the Great Depression. The reason for their optimism? Things didn’t get worse after April’s record-breaking 14.7% rate...

After bottoming in late March, gasoline futures have exploded higher, nearly tripling since the low. During the nationwide coronavirus shutdown, Americans slashed their automobile use, cutting mileage, and therefore fuel consumption, by over 60%. The collapse in demand and concerns about long-term economic slowdowns sent prices to 20-year low, sending wholesale futures prices under 40 cents per gallon...

Coffee prices dripped to a three-month low on Friday, trading under $1.03 per pound. The commodity has been extremely wild during the COVID-19 pandemic, with five moves of 20%+ so far this year. Demand and prices surged as Americans hoarded groceries, including their daily caffeine fix, pushing prices near $1.30 per pound in March. Over the last few months, demand has been falling as consumer use up supplies at home...

Livestock prices had been in a sharp decline for most of the year due to knock-on effects from the coronavirus outbreak. Initially, Chinese economic woes sapped demand for meat exports, and then U.S. turmoil added to concerns about consumers’ willingness to pay for expensive cuts of meat...

Oil prices have been in a sharp decline since the coronavirus spread began early this year, dropping as global production far outpaced demand. Once the United States went largely on lockdown, U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel demand collapsed, leading to a glut of crude oil and its products...

Egg prices have nearly tripled ahead of the Easter holiday, when U.S. demand typically spikes. This year, it’s not a travelling bunny that is driving demand, it’s Americans staying in their houses as they combat the spread of COVID-19...

Interest rates collapsed this week as markets continued to absorb the impact of the spread of COVID-19. On Tuesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced an emergency 0.5% rate cut in an attempt to get ahead of economic slowdowns caused by the virus. This was the first emergency action by the Fed since the 2008 financial crisis...

Commodities and stock markets worldwide are feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, leaving many investors feeling ill. This week saw a significant expansion in cases of COVID-19 outside of China, increasing concerns that the disease will have a global impact, affecting human health, transportation, and trade...