The Associated Press
Soybean prices surged Wednesday on expectations of rising demand from China and tighter supplies.
The actively traded July contract for soybeans rose 36 cents to settle at $15.05 a bushel Wednesday.
China’s demand for soymeal, which is used to feed livestock, has grown this month. Sales had slumped last month over concerns about an outbreak of a bird flu virus.
“Poultry and pork demand fell off a cliff in April,” said Sterling Smith, a commodities strategist at Citigroup. “Bird flu is not such a worry this month, and China is back in the market buying soybeans again.”
In other trading, corn rose one penny to settle at $4.75 a bushel and wheat slipped 6 cents to $6.64 a bushel.
Prices for precious and industrial metals were mixed. Gold for June delivery fell $6.50 to settle at $1,288.10 an ounce. Silver for July fell 6 cents to $19.34 an ounce.
Copper for July slipped 2 cents to $3.12 a pound. Platinum for the same month rose an even $6 to $1,474.90 an ounce. Palladium for June rose $4.60 to $830.45 an ounce.
The price of oil reached a one-month high Wednesday after a report revealed a large drop in U.S. crude supplies. Oil prices have climbed more than 4 percent this month.
Crude oil gained $1.74, or 2 percent, to settle at $104.07 a barrel.
In other energy futures trading in New York:
— Wholesale gasoline gained 3 cents to $2.99 a gallon.
— Natural gas fell 8 cents to $4.47 per 1,000 cubic feet.
— Heating oil was flat at to $2.95 a gallon.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
