Soybeans Rebound as EPA Clears Refinery Waiver Backlog, Cattle Rally on DOJ Probe Call

Overview

• Soybean futures rose 8 to 10 cents Friday to finish the week higher after volatile swings, with China reinstating eligibility for three U.S. soybean export firms.
• The EPA granted two full and 12 partial small refinery exemptions, clearing the remaining backlog of waiver requests tied to renewable fuel obligations.
• Live cattle contracts jumped $2.50 to $3.05 into the close after steep midweek losses, and President Trump said after the close that he asked the DOJ to investigate meatpackers for alleged collusion and price manipulation.
• Wheat ended Friday mixed as winter contracts fell and spring wheat held steady to slightly higher, with traders noting persistent Southern Plains dryness and a 50,000‑metric‑ton U.S. sale to a South Korean mill.
• Corn fell 6 to 7 cents Thursday with weekly export sales data unavailable due to the shutdown, while cotton weakened on Thursday with front months down roughly 50 points as The Seam reported lower average auction prices and ICE certified stocks stayed at 13,749 bales.