
Jack Scoville
Jack Scoville is an often quoted market analyst in the grain and soft commodities sectors. You will find his commentary throughout the Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Bloomberg, and Barron's publications. Contact Mr. Scoville at (312) 264-4322
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Softs Report 08/06/2024
MORNING SOFTS COMMENTS
Jack Scoville
Tuesday, August 06, 2024
Price Futures Group, CBOT
Chicago, IL
(312) 264-4322
jscoville@pricegroup.com
JSL, SA de CV
San Salvador, El Salvador (503) 2260-7806
COTTON
General Comments: Cotton was lower again yesterday on US Dollar weakness that created new demand hopes but also recession talk. Getter crop condition ratings from USDA kept ideas of big production around. It looks like futures are cheap enough for now but speculators see no reason to buy except to cover short positions. USDA showed overall good crop conditions that have kept abandonment ideas at a minimum and supported strong yields along with increased planted area. The Delta should have the best looking crops right now. Demand has been weaker so far this year but there are hopes for improved demand with the lower prices.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in Cotton are mixed. Support is at 67.50, 66.40, and 65.20 December, with resistance of 70.20, 73.70 and 74.40 December.
This Week Last Qeek Last Year Average
Cotton Squaring 91 87 90 91
Cotton Setting Bolls 60 54 58 59
Cotton Bolls Opening 8 7 7
Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
Cotton This Week 12 15 28 32 8
Cotton Last Week 9 13 29 40 9
Cotton Last Year 13 21 25 35 6
FCOJ
General Comments: FCOJ closed lower yesterday with a hurricane passing west of growing areas. The hurricane watch continued but nothing appeared threatening in the forecasts. A very active year is forecast and there have been some reports of flooding in the state even with no huge storms. The market remains well supported in the longer term based on forecasts for tight supplies and very hot weather in Florida. The reduced production also appears to be at the expense of the greening disease. There are no weather concerns to speak of for Florida or for Brazil right now.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are mixed. Support is at 410.00, 403.00, and 393.00 September, with resistance at 443.00, 454.00, and 478.00 September.
COFFEE
General Comments: New York and London closed lower yesterday as offers of Indonesian Robusta and Conillon from Brazil increased with the harvest there of the robusta starting to wind down. The breakdown in the world stock markets created recession fears that weighed on all commodities. Reports of better rains in Vietnam and Brazil recently were important. There are still reports of short supplies that could be made worse by ideas of reduced offers of Robusta are still in the market. Offers from Vietnam are reported to be down significantly and the current crop in Brazil along with the next crop in Vietnam s reported to be smaller. The weather forecasters now say that conditions are good in Vietnam, but damage was done to crops earlier in the growing season. A little rain has been reported in Vietnam and in Brazil recently to help crops in both countries. There were also reports of poor Robusta yields in Brazil during the harvest due to small bean sizes. Arabica yields in Brazil and Colombia are reported to be less this year due to extreme weather in both countries.
Overnight News: The ICO daily average price is now 226.88 ct/lb.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are down with no objectives. Support is at 219.00, 216.00, and 211.00 September, and resistance is at 230.00, 235.00 and 241.00 September. Trends in London are down with no objectives. Support is at 4070, 3950, and 3820 September, with resistance at 4220, 4310, and 4400 September.
SUGAR
General Comments: New York closed a little lower and London closed a little higher yesterday as harvest progress in Brazil and improved growing conditions in India and Thailand were the important fundamentals and as growing conditions improved in Brazil. Indian and Thai monsoon rains have been very beneficial and mills are expecting strong crops of cane. They are pushing the governments to allow exports but so far the governments have not agreed. Production estimates were raised in the northern hemisphere. Harvest yields of Sugarcane in Brazil are improving. There are still ideas that the Brazil harvest can be strong for the next few weeks amid dry harvest weather. Harvest weather is called good in center-south Brazil.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed to down with no objectives. Support is at 1770, 1740, and 1710 October and resistance is at 1880, 1910, and 1950 October. Trends in London are mixed to down with no objectives. Support is at 504.00, 498.00, and 492.00 October, with resistance at 520.00, 533.00, and 538.00 October.
COCOA
Questions? Ask Jack Scoville today at 312-264-4322General Comments: New York and London closed higher yesterday as tight supply conditions and reports of good demand are still around. The weather for the next crop is still improved as weather reports indicate it is raining in Ivory Coast and Ghana right now. The current rains can help production of the next crop but have also created disease concerns about the pods. Production concerns in West Africa as well as demand from nontraditional sources along with traditional buyers keep supporting futures, but this support is running its course and the market is searching for a new bullish fundamental. The North American and European grinds were stronger in data released last week, but the Asian grind was down a little. Production in West Africa could be reduced this year due to the extreme weather which included Harmattan conditions. The availability of Cocoa from West Africa remains very restricted.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed. Support is at 6960, 6580, and 6420 September, with resistance at 8250, 8480, and 8670 September. Trends in London are mixed. Support is at 5880, 5820, and 5360 September, with resistance at 6610, 6880, and 7080 September.