U.S. Economy
The U.S. Commerce Department said that real GDP was up almost .9% in the third quarter, better than expected. From a year ago, real GDP was down 2.3%. The U.S. Labor Department said that jobless claims were down 1,000 last week to 530,000. The December 2010 eurodollars were down .055 at 98.35. The U.S. Treasury sold $31 billion of 7-year T-notes at a median yield of 3.02% with a bid to cover ratio of 2.65. The December U.S. T-bonds fell 1.04/32nds to 118.22/32nds.

Grains and Cotton
The USDA said that, as of last week, 2009-2010 exports of:
Corn remained up 12% from a year ago.
Soybeans fell from up 11% to up 9% from a year ago.
Wheat remained down 35% from a year ago.
Cotton fell from down 31% to down 33% from a year ago.

Rain is falling again over the western half of the Midwest and moving eastward. December corn closed up 10.5 cents at $3.795. December cotton closed up .69 at 67.57 while rain continues to hit the already muddy cotton fields in the Mississippi River Delta.

Livestock
Chinese officials agreed to end their ban on imports of U.S. pork. The ban was created six months ago in response to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus. Health officials agree that eating properly cooked pork is safe. December hogs closed up 1.25 at 57.20, the highest close in three months.

The USDA said that net sales of beef totaled 11,300 tons last week, up from 7,100 tons the previous week. December cattle closed down .65 at 86.27.

Lumber
January lumber closed up its $10 maximum daily limit, helped by today's better-than-expected GDP report.

Sugar
March sugar closed up .88 at 22.81, bouncing back from yesterday's loss with help from today's weaker dollar.

Metals
In spite of record high gold prices, Barrick Gold reported a loss of $5.4 billion in the third quarter of 2009, after closing out its hedge positions. The company is expected to produce 7.4 million ounces of gold this year and 7.9 million ounces in 2010. December gold finished up $16.60 at $1,047.10.

The International Monetary Fund said that it expects 2010 GDP growth of 9% in China and 6.4% in India. December copper closed up 9.90 cents at $3.0295.

Energies
The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas were up 25 billion cubic feet last week to 3.759 trillion cubic feet. Supplies are now up 11% from a year ago.

Exxon reported earnings of $4.73 billion in the third quarter, down from $14.83 billion a year ago. December crude oil jumped up $2.41 to $79.87, encouraged by today's positive GDP report.

Currencies
Japan's Trade Ministry said that industrial output was up 1.4% in September, the seventh consecutive month higher. The December yen ended down .0088 at 1.0928 ahead of tonight's unemployment report.

Germany's Federal Labor Agency said that the number of unemployed was down 26,000 in October to 3.43 million people, better than expected.

Courtesy: www.dailyfutures.com

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