Jeff Thompson Journalist Profile

Articles

Pell City Police Department honors Officer of the Year, welcomes new officers - St. Clair News-Aegis

Nov 22, 2024 | newsaegis.com | Jeff Thompson

Published 10:47 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 The Pell City Police Department has named Officer Charles Forman its 2024 Officer of the Year. Forman joined the department in 2022. “Officer Foreman is an outstanding young officer,” Pell City Police Chief Clay Morris said. “His dedication to keep our community safe is unmatched.
Thompson On Cotton: Market Desperately Searching For Direction

Dec 4, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson

After falling a precipitous 173 points on Monday, cotton prices found some footing and traded narrowly from that point on. March futures settled at 79.42, a loss of 157 points. It is obvious this market is desperately searching for direction. Unfortunately, for now the only steering currents are a lack of demand and grower pricing pressure. Both of which are sure to stymie any significant advances. Keep in mind, price rallies are only sustainable when based on increases in consumption.
Thompson On Cotton: Watching Paint Dry

Nov 28, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson

If you like watching paint dry or chrome rust, last week’s cotton market was the place to be. Although, after the zaniness of the past few weeks, it was somewhat welcomed. With merchants closing early on Wednesday followed by an abbreviated trading session on Friday, volume was well below average. Moving in a narrow range of only two cents over the course of the week, March futures settled at 80.99 for a small loss of fifty-two points.
Thompson On Cotton: What Is Really Influencing the Market?

Nov 6, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson |USDA Releases Cotton

After months of repeated challenges, our biggest fear was market support in the low 80’s would break. How appropriate it would do so Halloween week. It appears sellers were spooked by frightful technical signals and a geopolitical environment which could have horrific consequences. As a result, after three consecutive days of triple digit losses the market closed below 80 cents for the first time since June.
Thompson On Cotton: Crop Conditions Continue to Deteriorate

Sep 26, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson |USDA Releases Cotton |USDA Releases Fruit

Cotton prices began the week trading narrowly in anticipation of the Fed’s decision on interest rates. Though we got what most expected, another pause, it was Chairman Powell’s post-announcement comments that spooked the market. Consequently, after hitting a high of 88.44 December retreated to 85.91, a small loss of 53 points on the week. Though some improvements in the economy were noted he also stated it has “a long way to go” to reach its two percent target.
Thompson On Cotton: Inflation Doesn’t Seem To Be Cooling Down

Sep 19, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson |Long-Term Challenge

We entered last week expecting a great deal of market volatility as a host of fundamental and macroeconomic reports were scheduled for release. So it was, after advancing over 200 points ahead of the September WASDE it fell prey to the old buy the rumor, sell the fact idiom. Thus, giving back nearly all these gains to close Friday at 86.44, for a paltry gain of 53 points on the week.
Thompson on Cotton: Music to the Market’s Ears

Sep 5, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson |Long-Term Challenge |Annie’s Project

Last week was a case of bad news for some was good news to others. Hurricane Idalia was expected to take her Category 3 winds east of all but a small portion of the Georgia crop. Instead, upon landfall it veered slightly northward damaging a much larger expanse of the state’s crop. While abroad, China’s economy has slumped to the point its government announced Friday monetary policies would be instituted in an effort to bolster it.
Thompson on Cotton: Some Excitement Has Returned

Jul 25, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson

Cotton modules lined up in a gin yard. ©Debra L Ferguson After advancing 326 points and closing higher for the fourth consecutive week, some excitement has returned to the cotton market. For the past eight months, it has steadily traded in a range from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s, giving neither buyers nor sellers cause to do anything. However, Friday’s settlement at 84.48, the highest weekly close in over four months, has sparked interest on both sides.
Thompson on Cotton: Inflation Continues to Ease

Jul 17, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson

Line of modules during cotton harvest. ©Debra L Ferguson Expectations were for an active trading week with the release of several reports and key indicators, but last week’s market activity was lackluster. It did trade in a four-cent range reaching a high of 83.10, nevertheless, closed within five points of where it started at 81.22. Considering the bearishness of the July WASDE report and disappointing export sales it felt like a win.
Thompson on Cotton: Desperately in Search of Direction

Jul 10, 2023 | agfax.com | Jeff Thompson

Insecticide sprayer in cotton. Photo: ©Debra L Ferguson A mid-week holiday had me confused all week as to what day it was. Desperately in search of direction, the cotton market shared the same confusion. It began the week with lackadaisical low-volume trading but closed strong with a triple-digit rally thanks in part to favorable export sales. For the first time since April, new crop prices posted back-to-back weekly gains settling at 81.17.