Agriculture
Seasonality In Commodities As The Spring of 2022 ApproachesCommodities can be seasonal assets. Fuel and nutritional requirements tend to reflect the weather conditions during the times of the year that are cold and when the weather warms. As February ends and March arrives this week, the old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. The oldest written reference to the “lion/lamb” proverb comes from English author Thomas Fuller, who included it in a 1732 volume of proverbs, “wise sentences, and witty sayings, ancient and modern.” It then passed to many farmer’s almanacs, but the saying is likely much older than the 18th-century reference.
The end of winter- Heating fuel demand declines
The beginning of spring- The driving season in gasoline and injection season in natural gas
The start of the 2022 crop year
The 2022 grilling season is on the horizon
The three reasons 2022 may not be a typical year for seasonality
As the weather warms over the coming weeks, the supply/demand equations for a host of commodities will shift.
While seasonality offers opportunities to traders and speculators in the futures markets, prices tend to adjust far before the seasons change each year. Moreover, in 2022, the economic and geopolitical landscapes suggest that traditional seasonality could go out the window.
The end of winter- Heating fuel demand declines
In a typical year, the end of the winter season is when futures markets are already reflecting spring pricing. As March begins this week, refiners tend to produce less heating oil, and the natural gas demand remains high, but the markets see the light at the end of the peak-season tunnel.
A monthly chart of the heating oil crack spread, a proxy for other distillates, including diesel and jet fuels, often weakens in March. While distillates are year-round fuels, heating oil production usually declines in March anticipating a decline in heating oil demand.
Historically, natural gas tends to reflect the prospects for milder weather during the spring months in March. Natural gas reached annual lows in February, March, and April in 2012, 2016, 2017, and 2021.
The beginning of spring- The driving season in gasoline and injection season in natural gas
The spring and summer seasons are when people tend to put more mileage on their cars as the weather improves. Gasoline demand tends to increase at the end of the winter as refiners shift from distillate to gasoline refining.
The monthly chart shows that gasoline processing spreads often move higher and peak during the spring and early summer months.
Each year, the natural gas market moves from the withdrawal to the injection season during March. As production begins to flow into storage across the US, the supply-demand equation shifts, and prices tend to decline.
In June 2020, natural gas fell to the lowest price in twenty-five years at $1.432 per MMBtu at the end of the second quarter.
The start of the 2022 crop year
As the snow melts across the fertile US plains and other crop-producing countries in the northern hemisphere, farmers begin to plant the new crops in March and April. The early spring marks the time when uncertainty about supplies peaks as the weather during the growing season is the primary factor in crop production each year. Grain and oilseed prices tend to rise during the spring and early summer as Mother Nature determines the weather conditions that determine the agricultural products that feed the world.
The monthly chart of CBOT soybean futures shows that prices often move to annual highs during the spring and summer months.
Uncertainty over the corn crop often pushes prices to highs during the spring and summer each year.
Wheat prices display the same seasonal pattern. Wheat is the primary ingredient in bread, a critical source of nutrition for nearly eight billion people.
The beginning of the crop season is when supply concerns start to increase as prices become as fickle as the weather over the coming months. The fear of drought or floods is always a key concern as the seeds go into the ground.
The 2022 grilling season is on the horizon
Each year, the US grilling season lasts from late May and the Memorial Day weekend through early September and the Labor Day weekend. As barbecues come out of storage across the US and family and friends gather outside, the demand for animal protein tends to rise. Futures markets tend to move higher as animal protein producers deliver cattle and hogs to processing plants in the spring to meet the increased summer requirements. Cattle and hog futures prices tend to move higher as the grilling season approaches and hit seasonal lows as it ends.
Live cattle futures often display seasonal strength in the spring and summer and weakness during the fall and winter months.
The monthly chart shows that feeder cattle futures tend to display seasonal strength during the grilling season.
Lean hog futures display the same seasonal trading pattern in many years.
The three reasons 2022 may not be a typical year for seasonality
While seasonality is a critical factor for energy and agricultural commodities, 2022 is anything but an ordinary year in markets across all asset classes. At least three factors could cause markets to exacerbate or ignore seasonality over the coming months:
Inflation is at the highest level in over four decades, causing prices of all goods and services to rise. Commodity prices continue to trend higher, despite the Fed’s plans to increase interest rates. The central bank remains far behind the inflationary curve, which is likely to continue the bullish trend.
Russia is a leading commodity producer, supplying Europe and the world with metals, minerals, energy, and agricultural products. The Russian invasion into Ukraine led to significant sanctions, which could cause embargos, and supply chain bottlenecks, causing price distortions as availabilities decline.
Markets reflect the economic and geopolitical landscapes. We have not experienced the current level of uncertainty in decades. The technical trend in most commodity markets remain higher, and the trends are always your best friends.
Seasonality is likely to take a backseat in the current landscape. Market participants should expect the unexpected over the coming weeks and months as price variance is likely to remain elevated. Approach all markets with a clear plan for risk and rewards and stick to that plan. Never allow a short-term risk position to become a long-term investment because the price moves contrary to expectations.
Seasonal factors are always critical in all raw material markets, but in 2022, inflation and geopolitical tensions are trumping the weather as the winter comes to an end.
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Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility, inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
Coffee JO nice VCP Triangle breakoutsSome nice VCP / Saucer Handle patterns on JO as it continues to climb higher.
Watch for a break higher if it can chew through 67 zone resistance
Break lower out of triangle / trendline support invalidates long idea.
On a macro level we're seeing bullish setups in AG complex (coffee , rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, etc.) , coupled with inflation coffee should run.
Personally I've noticed my local coffee shops also charging $1 per cold brew which supports the bull case.
Is Bunge Breaking Out?The rise of inflation has investors quietly returning to many commodity-related stocks that were popular 2003-2007. One of them is Bunge.
Earlier this month, the soybean processor touched its highest level in over 13 years. It pulled back but is trying to stabilize around the same $92 area where it peaked last May. Is old resistance new support?
BG is also near its 50-day simple moving average.
Next, notice how the stock rallied after its last three earnings reports. (Each beat estimates on the top and bottom lines.)
Third, something of a rotation seems to be taking place because other similar names like Archer Daniels Midland, Mosaic , CF Industries and Deere are also above their 50-day moving averages. (Unlike the S&P 500.)
Overall, it’s been a tough start to the year for most major stocks. But certain corners of the market have held up better. Traders may start focusing on the emerging relative strength in agriculture-related names like BG.
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1/23/22 CFCF Industries Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:CF )
Sector: Process Industries (Chemicals: Agricultural)
Market Capitalization: 14.155B
Current Price: $66.00
Breakout price: $70.00
Buy Zone (Top/Bottom Range): $66.00-$61.50
Price Target: $78.90-$80.00
Estimated Duration to Target: 80-88d
Contract of Interest: $CF 5/20/22 70c
Trade price as of publish date: $4.95/contract
1/23/22 NTRNutrien Ltd. ( NYSE:NTR )
Sector: Process Industries (Chemical Agricultural)
Market Capitalization: 40.677B
Current Price: $70.82
Breakout price: $72.25
Buy Zone (Top/Bottom Range): $70.50-$67.25
Price Target: $79.25-$80.50
Estimated Duration to Target: 114-120d
Contract of Interest: $NTR 6/17/22 75c
Trade price as of publish date: $4.40/contract
An investment resistant to inflation, GNR ETFThe SPDR® S&P® Global Natural Resources ETF (GNR) seeks to provide investment results that, before fees and expenses, correspond generally to the total return performance of the S&P® Global Natural Resources Index. The index is composed of three sub indices, the S&P Global Natural Resources - Agriculture Index, the S&P Global Natural Resources -Energy Index and the S&P Global Natural Resources - Metals and Mining Index. Each index has a 1/3 weighting and provides excellent exposure to a number of the largest market cap securities in three natural resources sectors - agriculture, energy, and metals and mining.
During times of high inflation, which we are no doubt currently experiencing producers/miners/growers of natural resources are excellent businesses to invest in as they have the ability to easily match prices to inflation and push them downstream to consumers. In addition the procurement and sale of natural resources is a capital intensive business whether that be mining, farming, or drilling for oil. This makes it harder for competitors to steal market share from the large established companies that comprise the GNR ETF. This diversified global ETF is an easy and effective way to gain exposure to businesses that should be less affected by a high inflationary environment.
*Not a recommendation to buy or sell*
$CORN weekly Equities took a dive last week from the Covid related catalyst, meanwhile I'm bullish and still green on agriculture and CORN calls.
I'm long JAN 23 calls up +17% . I'm looking for a run to $26 in the coming months. Will trim along the way. Stop loss break even.
I'm also long DBA calls (agriculture fund).
$DBA Long Swing Trade Idea $DBA Agriculture fund looks bullish on weekly (macd cross) and monthly time frame.
Looking at the monthly chart we can see a break above $20.75 zone implies a move through the VP gap to $23.8 zone resistance.
MACD showing good momo and EMA's bullish cross implies continuation to the upside.
Open Interest is very heavy on the call side, and on 11/17 a whale bought 10,300 contacts of the 1/21 19c ... Given the technicals and chart I followed this trade idea.
Trade is working +14% so far and I think there's more room . Whale is still in the trade as well.
Soybeans minor support tradeQuick and dirty trade idea on soybeans. Nothing fancy by any stretch of the imagination.
Previous 11.85 support is being tested, maybe we can make a dollar or two based on a quick pivot to the upside. As a result, a very tight stop loss is in order, this trade has a very high reward / risk ratio. No time will be wasted, the market shall crash though support and we move on to other trades, or perhaps we can make a small profit.
AGRI AgriFORCE Growing Systems Price TargetAGRI was listed on July 7th, at a public offering price of $5.00 per unit. Now the price is only 3.04usd!!!
Shares Float is low, 12.05Mil
AGRI has signed a letter of intent to acquire a leading AgTech European consultancy.
AgTech consultancy had 2020 annual consulting audited revenues of over US$26 million and EBITDA of US$3 million .
it expects revenues of US$28 million for 2021.
purchase price of AgriFORCE is around US$29 million cash and stock.
AGRI has now a mk cap of onlu 45.5mil. with this purchase and AgTech`s added fundamentals, and using also the fibonacci extension tool, my place target for AGRI short term is 11.20usd
I`m looking forward to read your opinion about it.
MOS - long AgricultureIm long MOS since lower, it flashed a weekly trendsignal now, I would say invalidation for this Idea is below 30.41$, that would be a conservative stop,
as almost Im watching manually, but I think MOS can trend nicely over upcoming weeks, so I wanted to share.
Good profits to all of you.
Would you buy this?WNW 52 Week Range 4.2800 - 160.6800
Wunong Net Technology Company Limited, engages in the online retail of foods products in China.
The company offers green food, organic food, intangible cultural heritage food, agricultural products, and pollution-free products.
It also operates a restaurant under the Wunong Food Hall name and engages in the wholesale of agricultural products.
I`m looking forward to read your opinion on it.