DTN Midday Grain Comments 02/20 11:58

DTN Midday Grain Comments 02/20 11:58 Grains Mixed at Midday Soybeans are the midday leader while wheat turns lower. By David Fiala DTN Contributing Analyst General Comments The U.S. stock market indices are mixed at midday with the Dow futures down 75 points. The interest rate products are higher. The dollar index is 60 higher. Energies are flat to higher with crude up flat. Livestock trade is mostly higher. Precious metals are lower with gold down $21.00. CORN Corn trade is flat to fractionally higher at midday following the lead of the soybeans with a new high for the move being scored by a penny on the March contract. Argentine weather is still one of the main market items. Ethanol margins are narrowing but should remain positive enough to keep the plants running at a good clip. U.S. export values should remain pretty competitive at current U.S. offers. The weekly export inspections were in line with recent weeks at 938,099 metric tons. On the March chart support is at the 10-day at $3.66 with the 20-day at 3.62 below that, with the 200-day moving average at $3.76 the highest moving average and major resistance. SOYBEANS Soybean trade is 2 to 9 cents higher at midday with trade reacting to the continued dry forecast in Argentina but we are off the new highs at midday. Brazil remains in generally good shape weather wise, which has cooled off the strength as of midday. Meal is $8 to $9 higher and oil is 20 to 30 points higher. There should be volatility moving forward with the moves to new highs for the move to go along with an 8 cent gap left overnight with more acres moving into the heart of the growing season in South America. Early Brazilian harvest will continue despite being slowed by rains, causing some crop losses. Weekly export inspection were a bit softer at 960,066 metric tons. On the March, support is the 10-day moving average at $9.96, with resistance at $10.39, which is the six-month high scored this morning. WHEAT Wheat trade is flat to 5 cents lower at midday for the winter wheat, while spring wheat works to hold onto the $6.00 area nearby in steady trade. The dollar is sharply higher at midday, but remains below 90 on the index. The Plains look to remain dry in the short term, with the best chances for rain to the east, with some popup showers in Oklahoma. The Russian crop will continue to be watched with less cover than usual, and India shaping up to potentially import more bushels the coming year. Weekly export inspections were in line with recent weeks at 422,288 metric tons. On the March Kansas City chart, wheat support is at the 200-day moving average at $4.72, and then the 20-day at $4.60 with resistance the recent high at $4.84 1/2. David Fiala is a DTN contributing analyst and the President of FuturesOne and a registered Advisor. He can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @davidfiala (BAS) Copyright 2018 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.