U.S. livestock futures were pressured Thursday by concerns that demand for beef and pork isn't matching supplies, despite a broad rally tied to the Greek debt crisis. Lean hog futures also succumbed to pressure from concerns about underlying fundamentals. December hog futures fell 37 to 86.65, February hog futures rose 2 at 89.67. October Live Cattle fell 3 to $120, October feeders, a lone bright spot in the beef complex, closed up 2 to $139.
US wheat futures ended higher as plan to resolve Europe's debt crisis fueled investor optimism. Dec wheat in Chicago ended up 24 ½ to $6.44; December wheat in KC gained 22 to $7.38; and MGE December wheat closed up 12 3/4 to $9.23.
US corn futures ended higher on broad-based strength in commodities and equities on optimism about Europe's debt problems. Dec corn fell 14 1/4, to $6.51.
US soybean futures closed higher as a plan to solve Europe's debt crisis inspires broad buying of commodities and equities, soy product futures finished firmer. January soybeans jumped 24 1/4 to $12.44, December soy meal soared $6.50 to $323.50; and December soy oil jumped 1.22 to 52.11.
ICE cotton futures rallied on the first positive export sales figures of the season, as well as getting an additional boost from weaker US dollar, a product of the EU debt plan. December new crop cotton closed limit up at $1.04, and the March contract gained 340 to close at $1.02.
Gold and silver futures rallied to a five-week high as optimism over the European debt deal and a weaker dollar fanned demand for store of value assets like precious metals. December gold rose $24.20 to $1,747.70 an ounce, December silver rose $1.80 to $35.11.
Crude oil futures prices surged 4.2% Thursday to their highest level in nearly three months after a European deal on Greece's debt and data which showed the U.S. economy grew by its highest level in a year. December crude oil gained $3.76 to $93.96 a barrel, November distillates gained 8.26 cents, to a three-month high of $3.09 a gallon, and November gasoline futures rose 9.04 cents to $2.74 a gallon, an eight-day high.
Natural gas futures closed out nearly 2% lower Thursday, after volatile end-of-session trading sent prices gyrating. November nat gas finished the day down 1.1 cents at $3.76.
On Wall Street, the Dow gained more than 300 points to surpass the 12,000 mark for the first time since August, as traders cheer a wide-ranging deal aimed at stemming Europe's debt crisis. The Dow gained 339 point to close at 12,208, the Nasdaq closed at 2,738, up almost 88 and the S&P500 gained more than 42 ½ to close at 1,284.
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