The latest Market Talks covering Commodities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1106 ET - Andersonssaid that its ethanol business found support from stronger margins in 4Q, and expects continued support for prices. Crush margins for its ethanol were 15 cents a gallon more than the prior year, says the firm. "Favorable biofuels policies, continuing elevated export demand, upcoming planned industry maintenance, and summer gasoline demand should all support ethanol fundamentals this year,"it said in its 4Q earnings report. Andersons' renewable fuel segment recorded an EBITDA of $69 million in 4Q, up from $41 million for the same quarter the prior year. Ethanol margins turned negative in the final month of 2025, according to StoneX data, but have been showing recovery since late January. Shares slip 1.5%. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
1003 ET - PepsiCo says it needs to cut prices in order to spur volume growth. "We've seen there is some friction with consumers, especially lower-income consumers and middle-income consumers around the world," CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. As a result, the company is adjusting its pricing strategy. The company is taking a "very surgical" approach to lowering its prices, Laguarta says, making sure to continue maximizing returns while reigniting volume growth. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0953 ET - Lean hog futures broke a seven-session losing streak Tuesday, finishing up 1% to just over 92 cents a pound. That appears to be continuing today, with the most-active contract up 0.4% in early trading. "April hogs finally got a breather from the sharp weakness over the last week," says the Hightower Report in a note. "The lingering question is whether fund longs will continue exiting positions." Live cattle futures are down in early trading, falling 0.4% ahead of Friday's Cattle on Feed report. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
0950 ET - Much more sugarcane is being harvested in the center-south region of Brazil than at this time last year, according to Brazilian agency Unica. The agency says that 609,000 metric tons of sugarcane were harvested in the second half of January, which is 154% more versus last year. Sugar production remains low though, at 5,000 tons--similar to what was seen at this time last year. Unica also says that total ethanol production is up 9% to 439 million liters. Agriculture across Brazil is showing record production this year, with Conab projecting that favorable weather conditions would spur a 23% increase in Arabica coffee production year-over-year. Sugar futures on the ICE are up 0.7% to 13.58 cents a pound. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
0944 ET - PepsiCo is focused on restaging four of its largest brands this year: Lay's, Tostitos, Gatorade and Quaker. The company will launch new offerings across its chip brands that lean into current health and wellness trends, CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, such as reduced sodium, no artificial colors and flavors, alternative cooking methods and oils and smaller portions. PepsiCo is looking to capitalize on hydration with Gatorade, expanding the brand beyond sports to everyday occasions. And across Quaker, the company will lean into the current demand for protein and fiber. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0943 ET - PepsiCo wants to market its snacks and beverages to consumers as healthy, on-the-go options. Consumers nowadays are giving more importance to health, wellness and functionally, prompting PepsiCo to rethink its portfolio, CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. The company is leaning into new products that carry low sodium, low sugar and/or whole grain tags, all of which are currently going over well with shoppers. Looking ahead, Laguarta says that fiber and hydration will serve as growth engines for the company's snack and beverage offerings, as it pushes more gut-healthy and refreshing new products. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0941 ET - The U.K.'s blue-chip index moved beyond 10,600 points for the first time and is on track for its best start to a calendar year in 28 years. The index is up 1.3% in afternoon European trade, driven higher by gains for miners and banks. Climbing miners--led by Antofagasta, up 6.1%--continue a defining theme for the index this year, as soaring gold, silver and copper prices support major London-listed miners. Defense stocks also spur the index higher, with BAE Systems climbing 3.5% and extending its year-to-date gains to over 22%. If the FTSE closes Wednesday with gains of 7.42% for the year, it will have notched the best start to a year through Feb. 18 since 1998. The index is up 7.67% year-to-date in afternoon trade. (josephmichael.stonor@wsj.com)
0941 ET - The consumer and macroeconomic environments remain dynamic, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta says at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. On the consumer front, habits and preferences are shifting, he says. Nowadays, shoppers are increasingly focused on functional health and wellness, as well as flavor. "In multiple markets, we have to play to multiple cultures as we develop flavors for our products," Laguarta says. At the same time, PepsiCo remains up against a volatile macro landscape, driven by tech disruption and geopolitical risks and uncertainty. (connor.hart@wsj.com)
0931 ET - Gold prices extend gains as investors await the release of the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes due later on Wednesday. Futures in New York rise 1.5% to $4,980.60 a troy ounce after sliding below the $4,900 mark earlier this week, pushing traders to buy the dip. According to the FedWatch tool, markets expect the U.S. central bank to lower interest rates in June. Attention will soon shift to PCE inflation data scheduled for Friday as investors look for clearer signals on the rates outlook. (giulia.petroni@wsj.com)
0920 ET - The USDA's 102nd Agricultural Outlook Forum is scheduled to start in Arlington, Va. tomorrow, and will offer the agency's first predictions for how many acres of corn and soybeans farmers are expected to plant this spring. Analysts are throwing out their forecasts for what the USDA may say, generally predicting that farmers may plant more soybean acres than last spring while reducing how much corn they plant. With last year's corn crop smashing prior records, corn this year is expected to still be historically high--with agricultural lender CoBank predicting corn acreage around 94 million acres, which would still make it one of the five largest crop years ever recorded, according to USDA data. CBOT grains are higher premarket. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
0916 ET - CBOT soybean oil futures rise 2.1% overnight, continuing to lead the CBOT agricultural complex higher after the National Oilseed Processors Association reported record-high levels of soybean crush. The rate of soybeans crushed in January came in at 221.6 million bushels, exceeding the previous high for January by over 20 million bushels. Strength in soyoil is supporting soybeans, with those futures up 0.5% premarket. "While the extra demand is welcome, the global bean supply is still viewed as more than adequate to meet demand moving forward," says Doug Bergman of RCM Alternatives in a note. (kirk.maltais@wsj.com)
0906 ET - U.S. natural gas futures are probing sub-$3 prices for nearby contracts with mild weather this week outweighing an expected cold spell on the East Coast at the weekend and early next week. "Warm anomalies are expected to return to the region near the end of the month, rendering any stretch of cold short-lived," Andy Huenefeld of Pinebrook Energy Advisors says in a note. "The market is so far shrugging off any incremental demand brought on by this brief pattern change." Natural gas for March delivery is off 1.7% at $2.978/mmBtu. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 18, 2026 12:15 ET (17:15 GMT)
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