Ag report shows corn and soybean forecasts increase from last month, record levels predicted

September 30th, 2009 Index shows home prices increase from June to JulyNEW YORK — A closely watched index of home prices shows year-over-year improvement for the sixth month in a row and prices in all 20 cities rose from June to July. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities released Tuesday rose 1.2 percent from June.

September 16th, 2009 US farmers on verge of giant corn harvestDES MOINES, Iowa — Darrel McAlexander has been farming for 43 years and he's never seen his corn crop look so good. "This is probably the best corn crop I've raised," McAlexander said from his farm in the southwestern Iowa town of Sidney.

September 15th, 2009 Gold, other commodities rise amid weaker dollarNEW YORK — Gold prices bounded higher Tuesday, supported by a weaker dollar and a report showing a bigger-than-expected jump in inflation. Energy and agriculture futures also rose.

September 2nd, 2009 Fewer farmers buying at annual ag equipment showDECATUR, Ill. — Danny Bradshaw climbed out of the cab of a New Holland tractor Wednesday morning impressed but already certain he wouldn't spend the more than $200,000 all that horsepower and high-gloss blue paint would cost.

August 28th, 2009 Aruba predicts 1Q profit of 3 cents per shareSUNNYVALE, Calif. — Wireless networking technology maker Aruba Networks Inc.

August 28th, 2009 Sector Snap: Fertilizer cos. drop on farmer woesNEW YORK — A near-record corn crop is going to cut demand for fertilizers, said a UBS analyst Friday as he downgraded two fertilizer companies, just as the government sees U.S.

August 12th, 2009 Metals rise on weak dollar, upbeat outlookNEW YORK — A weaker dollar and a more upbeat outlook on the economy sent prices for gold, copper and other metals slightly higher. Investors put their money to work in stocks and commodities Wednesday, and pulled out of safe-haven assets like Treasurys and the U.S.

July 23rd, 2009 East Asia growth may rebound sharply, ADB saysBANGKOK — East Asia's emerging economies could rebound sharply next year with the region already moving from recession to recovery, the Asian Development Bank said Thursday. The deep slumps in the U.S., Europe and Japan will continue to hurt export-dependent East Asia this year but it could expand at a rapid clip in 2010, the development lender said in a semiannual economic report.

July 9th, 2009 Scientists hope tiny insect can help save soybeansSIOUX FALLS, S.D. — An insect no bigger than a comma is being studied as a natural predator that farmers could use instead of chemicals to protect the nation's soybean crop from aphids.

June 30th, 2009 Home prices post 18.1 percent annual drop in AprilNEW YORK — A key housing index shows a clear trend that home price declines are moderating. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday showed home prices in 20 major cities tumbled by 18.1 percent from April 2008.

June 25th, 2009 Corn catch-up: Crop planted late after wet springST. LOUIS — Across much of the nation's Corn Belt, growers like Richard Borgsmiller finally have their crops in the ground, after spring rains swamped their fields and put them weeks behind schedule.

June 23rd, 2009 German consumer confidence risingBERLIN — German consumer confidence is rising, helped by an increase in income expectations and a stable job market amid the recession, a survey showed Tuesday. But despite the improvements, research groups continued to slash their growth forecasts, suggesting the downturn is far from over.

June 22nd, 2009 German businesses expect improvement, survey showsBERLIN — Business confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, dropped to a new all-time low in June but expectations for the future continued to improve, a closely watched survey showed Monday. The Munich-based Ifo institute's business climate index — an average of its current situation and future expectations numbers — improved overall to 85.9 points from 84.3 the month before, the third consecutive increase since March when the indicator hit a 26-year low of 82.2 points.

June 11th, 2009 Lower crop supplies could mean higher food pricesCrop prices could rise this year because of dwindling supplies of U.S. corn and soybeans, raising fears of grain shortages and higher food costs for consumers.

April 22nd, 2009 Hot, hot, hot: Calif. broils for 3rd straight dayLOS ANGELES — A record-breaking spring heat wave baked California for a third day in a row but showed signs of weakening Tuesday as forecasters predicted cooling from sea breezes soon.