BASIC & RECENT MARKET INFO

Tidbits Ukraine:  U.S. Sec. of State Rubio led U.S. negotiations with Ukrainian officials in Florida yesterday. Both sides said the talks were productive about a peace deal with Russia with Rubio expressing optimism about the progress. Rubio said the aim is to create a pathway that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent.   Venezuela:  Yesterday, Venezuela's President Maduro was requesting a conversation with President Trump according to multiple news sources. Sunday evening

Tidbits Early last week President Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. On Friday, a large crude refinery and chemical facility in Venezuela had a serious explosion, the cause of which is reportedly unknown. On Monday, the U.S. will designate Venezuela’s drug Cartel de Soles as a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the U.S. That designation legally allows a U.S. military strike on any target within the country tha

Market Plan Utilizing Put Options Last weekend, we presented a market plan to lock in a floor price for soybeans near breakeven at no cost upfront while using puts options to capture further price gains should additional price gains become available.   A feature of that plan is it removes all stress from catching a price near or even above the high for the year.   The first step is to use a HTA to lock-in a floor price. Then place open orders to buy puts at ever higher strike

A trend direction can be bullish or up, bearish or down, or sideways. Also, longer trends have more power and contain smaller trends. Primary trend lasts about a year or more, secondary trend takes a month to several months, and a minor trend goes for days to weeks. Take a look at this 2025 corn chart illustration: However, it is easier to say what the trend was rather than to decide what phase it is now or when it is likely to change. Our friend Allen Gard with Clear Focus H