The dollar strengthened Wednesday as indications of a U.S. economy taking steps to recovery contrasted with concerns over labor strikes that could derail a plan to pull Greece out of a budget hole, weighing on the euro. »

The story in petroleum remains little changed from last week. Inventory numbers were relatively neutral, falling right in-line with analyst estimates. The trend lower in refinery utilization, however, remains intact, with use slipping another 0.8% this week. »

CBOT soy futures grind lower, backpedaling amid the absence of fresh supportive news to underpin prices. A lack of outside market support, left futures without the necessary spark to rekindle Tuesday's technically inspired short covering rally »

An interagency biofuels group created by U.S. President Barack Obama is set Wednesday to outline a broad agenda for ensuring the U.S. increases the amount of biofuels used in cars, trucks, and airplanes. The President's Interagency Working Group will say the U.S. is not on track to meet the »

Crude futures rose Wednesday after government data showed a decline in U.S. fuel inventories, though weak demand continued to pressure prices. The reaction in the oil market was muted, however, as the government's data closely »

U.S. wheat futures are giving back Tuesday's gains amid a lack of support from outside markets or fund buying, traders say. Strength in the U.S. dollar and weakness in neighboring CBOT corn and soybeans are contributing to a bearish tone, they say. »

CBOT corn futures are weaker in early trade amid outside market pressure as prices give back some of this week's gains. Traders say that the recent climb was a "dead cat bounce" and that fundamentals are not supportive. »

Brazil's Sugarcane Industries Association, or Unica, said Brazilian ethanol prices have already reached their peak at around 1.2 Brazilian reals ($0.65) per liter, local news service Estado reported Wednesday. High ethanol prices have caused »

U.S. DOE summary text for week ended Jan 29: Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the Week Ending January 29, 2010 U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 13.5 million barrels per day during week ending »

ICE cocoa has recouped earlier weakness and is back to near-steady levels. Some traders are buying to cover short positions, especially now that the March futures have been able to reclaim the $3,100-per-metric-ton area, says Sterling Smith, »

Stocks In Millions of Barrels »

US crude oil stocks rose 2.3 mln bbls, against expectations of no change, in the week ended Jan 29, EIA data show. Gasoline stocks fell 1.3 mln bbls, compared with an expected rise, while distillate stocks fell 1 mln bbls. Refiners cut operations relative to capacity by 0.8 percentage »

EIA Crude Oil Stocks change: +2.137 mln bbls; stocks 328.99 mln bbls; expected +0.3 mln bbls. EIA Motor Gas Stocks change: -1.306 mln bbls; stocks 228.12 mln bbls; expected mln bbls »

LSN - MARKET WEATHER MENTALITY (corn and soybeans): South America weather continues to look very good. Relief from dryness in La Pampa and southwestern Buenos Aires will likely be the most limited in duration lasting only late this week and into the »

LSN - INDIA: No precipitation of significance fell in India’s main winter grain and oilseed production areas Tuesday. High temperatures were in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit north, 70s and 80s in central areas and 80s to lower 90s in the south. »

LSN - CHINA: Above average temperatures have been occurring across much of central and southern China for a week now and continued Tuesday. Highs in the Yellow River Basin were in the 30s and lower 40s Fahrenheit with lows in the teens and 20s. »