Walt Breitinger, Helena Independent Record Journalist Profile

Articles

Weekly commodity wrap-up

1 week ago | telegraphherald.com | Walt Breitinger

In an extremely volatile week, July silver futures exploded to $37.41 per ounce on Thursday, then made a sharp U-turn down to $35.51 by Friday morning. Continued strong demand from the electronics and solar sectors, along with possible escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, now called a war by many commentators, combined to send buyers into the silver rush to the highest price this year. Profit taking and hopes for negotiations flipped buyers into sellers, resulting in the week’s end tumble.
Futures File: Israeli attack on Iran shakes futures

2 weeks ago | nwitimes.com | Walt Breitinger

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Weekly commodity wrap-up

2 weeks ago | telegraphherald.com | Walt Breitinger

Platinum is surging with monthly prices up nearly 25% and YTD prices up 36%. The multi-use metal has outpaced both gold and silver. Investors’ concerns about tariffs and trade fluctuation look to this useful silver-gray toned element. Scarcity of the metal has affected prices with supply output down by 12% in South Africa, which yields 74% of the world’s supply. Palladium, a member of the platinum family, is also seeing an upward move in price.
Futures File: Silver, beef up

3 weeks ago | nwitimes.com | Walt Breitinger

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Weekly commodity wrap-up

3 weeks ago | telegraphherald.com | Walt Breitinger

Some 15,000 USDA employees have left their jobs since a $7 billion reduction in the department budget by the current administration. The cut was billed as a need to “safeguard our country from fiscal ruin.”A long time D.C. USDA stalwart, Kevin Shea, commented that there was no way the cuts wouldn’t be felt by farmers and ranchers. While many employees left voluntarily, workers cited pressure to leave their positions as the primary reason for departing.
Futures File: A maize of issues makes corn vulnerable

3 weeks ago | record-eagle.com | Walt Breitinger

Worldwide, corn crops are at risk from climate change. Crops in the U.S., China, South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa are endangered by temperature extremes, unreliable rainfall and severe storms. NASA predicts that harvests could reduce by 24% worldwide by 2030. Africa, where corn is a main food source to 300 million people, relies on rainwater rather than irrigation. Recent dry weather has left corn there in danger. The Horn of Africa drought in Kenya saw harvests decline by 22% from 2020 to 2023.
Weekly commodity wrap-up

1 month ago | telegraphherald.com | Walt Breitinger

Worldwide, corn crops are at risk from climate change. Crops in the U.S., China, South America and sub-Saharan Africa are endangered by temperature extremes, unreliable rainfall and severe storms. NASA predicts that harvests could reduce by 24% worldwide by 2030. Africa, where corn is a main food source to 300 million people, relies on rainwater rather than irrigation. Recent dry weather has left corn there in danger. The Horn of Africa drought in Kenya saw harvests decline by 22% from 2020 to 2023.
Futures File: Consumers reduce the juice

1 month ago | record-eagle.com | Walt Breitinger

Despite limit-up gains on Thursday, orange juice prices have dropped by 46% from December highs. Consumption of the drink is down 50% per capita since the mid 2000’s. Oranges in Florida have been affected by Citrus Greening, an incurable disease, as well as extreme weather conditions including hurricanes. Recent tariffs have reduced exports to Canada, a major importer from the U.S. Brazilian oranges offer competition; however, extreme heat caused exports from there to reduce in 2024.
Futures File: Consumers reduce the juice

1 month ago | nwitimes.com | Walt Breitinger

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Weekly commodity wrap-up

1 month ago | telegraphherald.com | Walt Breitinger

Consumers reduce the juiceDespite limit-up gains on Thursday, orange juice prices have dropped by 46% from December highs. Consumption of the drink is down 50% per capita since the mid 2000s. Oranges in Florida have been affected by Citrus Greening, an incurable disease, as well as extreme weather conditions including hurricanes.