The latest Market Talks covering Commodities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.
1108 ET - Livestock futures are higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange with hogs and live cattle both advancing 0.7%. Cattle markets are still focused on expectations that both cattle and beef will remain tight and under-supplied through the upcoming months, says Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing in a note. Traders are wondering how higher prices might affect beef demand during the summer season, she adds, but "strong demand for protein supports prices, and there is no sign of a technical top at this time."(anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
1014 ET - The USDA's crop progress report due later today is likely to show a modest start to soybean planting with all of it being done so far in the Mississippi Delta region, Cory Bratland of AgMarket.Net says in a note. "The drought monitor index is showing some improvement across much of the U.S., so planting should start to take off this week." Meanwhile, markets are watching for developments in the Middle East, where "the conflict with Iran seems to be coming to a head here early this week." CBOT soybeans are up 0.4%. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
0953 ET - The dollar weakens ahead of President Trump's scheduled press conference at 1 p.m. ET, while markets contemplate a possible cease-fire deal with Iran amid looming threats of escalation. Trump has threatened to blow up Iran's power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz isn't opened by tomorrow evening, but reports of peace talks help calm down energy markets. Oil futures still rise slightly while U.S. stock indexes are mixed at opening. The WSJ Dollar Index falls 0.3% as the greenback weakens 0.4% against the euro and 0.1% versus the yen. (paulo.trevisani@wsj.com; @ptrevisani)
0949 ET - U.S. natural gas futures are higher as some late-season heating demand is seen through Wednesday for the Midwest and eastern U.S. amid an otherwise bearish weather outlook. "Demand would be stronger if not for comfortable temperatures over much of the rest of the U.S.," NatGasWeather.com says in a note. National demand eases late this week into next week with "near perfect highs of 60s-80s" in most regions, the forecaster adds. Nymex natural gas is up 1.9% at $2.854/mmBtu. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
0946 ET - Grain futures are mixed in early U.S. trade as markets keep watch on developments in the Middle East and efforts toward a cease-fire. "If the Iran conflict has a temporary cease-fire, that might weigh on corn futures, especially with U.S. spring planting ramping up this month," Naomi Blohm of Total Farm Marketing says in a note. Wheat is also seeing downward pressure. "If the Iran war concludes, food security concerns will be reduced and prices could pull back further," she says. CBOT corn is off 0.2% and wheat falls 0.7%, while soybeans gain 0.4%. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
0901 ET - Oil futures are lower in cautious trade on news that the Trump administration is pushing for a potential 45-day cease-fire with Iran, at the same time that President Trump has threatened major attacks on Iranian infrastructure if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn't reached by Tuesday. The eight OPEC+ countries with voluntary output cuts outstanding agreed Sunday to raise production by 206,000 barrels a day in May. They expressed concern about the continued Hormuz closure and attacks on energy infrastructure, as "restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time." WTI is down 1% at $110.48 a barrel.(anthony.harrup@wsj.com)
0737 ET - Barrick Mining warns of a possible jump in the cost and in timeline to develop its massive copper-gold project in Pakistan. The Canadian miner says it is slowing development activity at the Reko Diq project and continuing a review until mid-2027 following preliminary findings and an escalation of security issues in the country and region. Barrick had estimated the first phase of development would cost between $5.6 billion and $6 billion, and phase two between $3.3 billion and $3.6 billion, with first production targeted by the end of 2028. Barrick says it continues to believe in the long-term value of Reko Diq, which it estimates is one of the world's largest undeveloped copper and gold projects. (robb.stewart@wsj.com)
0617 ET - Palm oil ended lower in the Asian trading session but stayed at elevated levels. CPO prices will likely be supported this week by a weaker ringgit and tightening Malaysian stockpiles, Nomura analysts Raghavendra Divekar and Amol Dongre write in a note. CPO prices may average around 4,700 ringgit this week, though a de-escalation in the Middle East conflict and softer crude oil could pull prices below 4,600 ringgit a ton, the analysts say. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for June delivery fell 27 ringgit to 4,812 ringgit a ton. (kimberley.kao@wsj.com)
0536 ET - Gold's upside may be capped as expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts ease, Sky Links Capital's Daniel Takieddine says. Strong U.S. labor data keeps Treasury yields supported, weighing on the precious metal. Hopes for a resolution to the Middle East conflict are supported by ongoing diplomatic efforts, further driving uncertainty around gold's outlook. Still, geopolitical risks beyond the Middle East and steady central-bank buying continue to support gold prices, the chief executive adds. Gold's near-term moves hinge on incoming U.S. data, Fed signals and geopolitical developments, he notes. Spot gold adds 0.5% to $4,699.02 a troy ounce. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)
0256 ET - Comex gold futures are poised to resume downside movement, RHB Retail Research's Joseph Chai says in a research report. The futures closed the latest session with a long bearish candlestick pattern on the daily chart, the analyst notes. This price action reaffirms that the 20-day simple moving average is serving as overhead resistance. If the commodity breaks below support at $4,600 an ounce, it could extend the downward correction toward $4,400 an ounce, the analyst says. Spot gold's 20-day simple moving average is around $4,756.13 an ounce, while spot gold is 0.3% lower at $4,663.32 an ounce, ICE data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
2244 ET - Palm oil prices fall in early trade. CPO futures are likely to see increased volatility this week amid cautious sentiment as traders position ahead of Malaysia Palm Oil Board's data and cargo surveyors' export figures due Friday, AmInvestment Bank says in a note. The data will offer traders production, inventory, and export trends for clearer direction, it says. The bank pegs resistance at 4,875 ringgit a ton and support at 4,803 ringgit a ton. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for June delivery is down by 6 ringgit at 4,833 ringgit a ton. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
1955 ET - Gold falls in early trade amid dollar strength, which typically makes the precious metal more expensive for holders of non-U.S. dollar currencies. Concerns over higher inflation stemming from rising oil prices may also be weighing on gold's price, as faster inflation could lead to interest-rate increases by major central banks, dimming the appeal of the non-interest-bearing precious metal. Spot gold falls 1.3% to $4,617.52 per ounce, according to ICE data; U.S. Dollar Index is 0.2% higher at 100.263, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 06, 2026 12:15 ET (16:15 GMT)
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