International News 30 September 2025
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Soybean Prices Weaken on Harvest Pressure and Lack of Chinese Demand
Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) slipped at the start of the week as seasonal U.S. harvest pressure and absent Chinese demand weighed on export prospects. On Monday (Sept 29, 2025), the most active soybean contract dipped 0.1% to $10.13 per bushel at 00:13 GMT. Corn also eased 0.1% to $4.21½ per bushel, while wheat held steady at $5.19¾. U.S. exporters continue to lose market share in China, with buyers shifting to Latin American suppliers amid the ongoing trade dispute. Argentina’s temporary suspension of grain export taxes last week further boosted competition, with nearly 40 soybean cargoes already registered for November–December shipment, mostly bound for China, eroding U.S. seasonal marketing momentum. Expectations of a large U.S. harvest continue to pressure soybean and corn prices, although doubts about potential corn yields provided some support in recent sessions. Traders are closely watching updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which will release weekly harvest progress on Monday and quarterly grain stock data on Tuesday. Speculative sentiment remains bearish: CFTC’s Commitments of Traders report showed hedge funds and other noncommercial traders increased net short positions in corn, wheat, and soybeans as of September 23, highlighting weak confidence in the near-term outlook.
U.S. Dollar Under Pressure Amid Shutdown Risk
The U.S. dollar traded weaker on Monday morning as investors awaited key economic data and a series of Federal Reserve speeches that could provide clues on the interest rate outlook. Focus also shifted to the looming risk of a U.S. government shutdown if Congress fails to pass a budget before the new fiscal year begins on October 1. A shutdown could delay critical economic reports, including Friday’s nonfarm payrolls, which markets view as essential for Fed policy guidance. Against major currencies, the dollar slipped 0.2% to ¥149.24 versus the yen, while the euro rose 0.15% to $1.1717 and sterling edged up 0.11% to $1.3418. Despite last week’s rebound on reduced expectations for aggressive Fed cuts, traders now see only around 40 basis points of rate reductions by year-end. Analysts warn that if a shutdown occurs, data delays could complicate the Fed’s October meeting. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar strengthened 0.15% to $0.6557 and the New Zealand dollar added 0.07% to $0.5780, ahead of Tuesday’s Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision. With multiple U.S. data releases expected, including job openings, private payrolls, and ISM manufacturing PMI, the week is set to test the dollar’s resilience against ongoing uncertainty.