Commodity Stock in Focus: Monsanto Company (MON)
The agribusiness industry has long been an investor favorite on Wall Street, as these companies provide indirect exposure to some of the most popular commodities on the market. Agricultural products are best known for human consumption, although these commodities are widely used in a number of other applications, making the producers of these products highly appealing [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Commodities in Focus Amid Russia Sanction Battle
The last few months have primarily focused on the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the violent conflict has escalated in recent weeks. Now, the U.S. and European Union are imposing various sanctions on Russia in an effort to get President Vladimir Putin to play ball. These actions have yet to affect the European nation. Instead, Putin has retaliated with sanctions of his own, creating something of a legislative battle, potentially creating major headwinds for certain commodities [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Monsanto Q1 Earnings Are In: Profits Climb
In the agribusiness space, Monsanto Company (MON) is one of the largest and most popular companies in the industry. It currently is the world’s leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate and the second biggest producer of genetically engineered seeds. And with a market cap of over $61 billion, investors pay close attention to this bellwether, closely following the company’s news and key earnings report [for more agricultural news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Checking in on the Best Commodities of 2012
While the bulls reigned supreme on Wall Street in 2013, bearish pressures kept a lid on commodity prices throughout the entire year as investor rotated out of safe havens and jumped into cyclical equities. Despite the improving economic outlook on the home front, as evidenced by the Federal Reserve’s efforts to start reducing stimulus, demand for natural resources remains lackluster. Worries over China’s slowdown and unfavorable supply conditions remain the key headwinds that will most likely continue to put downward pressures on commodity prices heading into the new year [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Soybeans Soar, Creating Trading Opportunity
The summer of 2013 has been notably cooler than the scorcher that 2012 brought, but August saw the heat turned up on the U.S., having a marked impact on a number of commodities. Soybeans, in particular, have seen their prices spike, as the hot and dry weather of the last few weeks has taken its toll. The run higher could throw a wrench in the commodity’s standard cycle, making it all the more difficult to trade [for more soybeans news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
U.S. Heatwave Draws Comparisons to 2012
Déjà vu all over again. It was about this time last year that much of the U.S. was engulfed in a crushing heatwave that injected a fair amount of volatility into the commodity world; namely in the agriculture markets. With the U.S. dominating the production of a number of big name crops, the recent heatwave has caught the attention of a number investors looking to cash in on the trend [for more agricultural commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Dry Weather Leads To Rising Crop Prices
With Summer temperatures topping out around the United States, the heat could have consequences beyond rising electric bills. Corn and soybean crops will reach maturity over the next few weeks, but the dry heat affecting growing areas of the US could erode crop conditions. As the historically largest exporter of soybeans and corn, U.S. farmers have a lot of pressure to ensure a strong harvest this year but analysts are already predicting another rough summer for the commodity supply [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Monsanto Earnings Are In: Hits And Misses (MON)
In the world of agribusiness, there is no name more prolific then Monsanto Company (MON) – the world’s leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate and the second biggest producer of genetically engineered seeds. With a market cap of over $54 billion, investors pay close attention to this bellwether, following the company’s news and key earnings report [for more agricultural news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].
Soybean Prices Set To Simmer
With applications in oils, animal feed and in our own meals, soybeans have become a staple crop in the U.S. and many other nations. While soybeans are originally from Southeast Asia, with Chinese farmers among the first to domesticate the crop, the U.S. currently both produces and exports more than any country in the world. But holding the majority of the world’s supply of this legume has made the U.S. extremely vulnerable to a new trend that looks to have a big impact on the commodity’s price [for more commodity news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].