File photo of a CN locomotive in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

CN CEO to retire as investor pressure weighs

Shareholder TCI has replacement in mind

Reuters — Canadian National Railway (CN) said on Tuesday its CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest will retire at the end of January, following investor demands for his exit after the railroad operator’s failed bid for Kansas City Southern. TCI Fund Management, which owns five per cent of Canadian National, in August pitched former Jim Vena — a […] Read more

File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)

More acres seen needed worldwide to meet mounting crops demand

U.S. acres may have already hit ceiling: AgResource chief

Geneva | Reuters — Farmers need more space to grow crops to meet mounting demand for food and renewable fuel at a time of slowing growth in yields, consultancy AgResource said on Tuesday. A renewable fuel push under U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is set to trigger a boom in soyoil use, reinforcing a […] Read more



CBOT December 2021 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn climbs on export data, acreage worries

CBOT soy, wheat also firm

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures ended higher on Monday, rallying from early declines, as traders focused on stronger-than-expected weekly U.S. export inspections data and fears that rising fertilizer prices could limit corn plantings in the coming year. Soybean futures also rose, buoyed by strength in soyoil and global vegetable oil markets. Wheat futures […] Read more


Minneapolis (MGEX) December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Prairie cash wheat: CWRS bids up with U.S. futures

However, a strong loonie applies pressure

MarketsFarm — Minneapolis spring wheat futures climbed to contract highs during the week ended Thursday, which provided spillover support for Canadian cash bids. However, strength in the Canadian dollar was a bearish influence, tempering the upside in the cash market. Average Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS, 13.5 per cent protein) wheat prices were up by […] Read more



CBOT November 2021 soybeans (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy bounce on technical buying, potential export demand

CBOT wheat turns higher on Paris rally

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices rose on Friday, supported by technical buying and renewed hopes of export demand, while wheat prices were boosted by a rally in the European market, traders said. Prices of corn and soybeans have recovered since falling sharply following higher-than-expected supply forecasts from the U.S. Department […] Read more

An eastward-facing view from the north edge of the crossing at Mile 98.14 of CN’s Ashcroft subdivision, where BCWS suspected the Lytton fire began. (TSB photo)

No evidence trains sparked Lytton fire, TSB says

Transportation Safety Board now stepping out of ongoing fire probe

There’s no proof the fire that largely destroyed a British Columbia village, damaged a key rail bridge and led to cuts in rail speed limits in high-risk areas was sparked by train traffic, the federal Transportation Safety Board says. The TSB on Thursday said its investigation, launched in early July, “has not revealed any evidence […] Read more


CBOT December 2021 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Futures see ‘dead cat bounce’

Traders watching potential for increase grain export demand

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago corn and soybean futures prices crept up on Thursday, finding chart support after sharp losses over the past two sessions on higher-than-expected U.S. grain supply forecasts. It has been a rocky week for the corn and soybean markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday released estimates of both […] Read more

File photo of the Port of Montreal. (Guy Banville/iStock/Getty Images)

Canada concerned about supply chain issues, watching ports ‘closely’

Reuters –– Canada is concerned about the challenges facing global supply chains and is watching the country’s ports very closely, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Thursday. Freeland, speaking to reporters in Washington after meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, said she was broadly optimistic about the strength of Canada’s economic recovery […] Read more