CHICAGO, Jan 21 (Reuters) – A Chinese trade delegation on
Friday signed agreements to buy 8.45 million tonnes of U.S.
soybeans, valued at about $4.8 billion, in China’s largest
single-day U.S. soy purchase agreement ever, a spokesman from
the U.S. Soybean Export Council said.

It was the second round of purchases announced during a
two-day visit to Chicago by a group of Chinese businessmen and
officials as part of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit
to the United States.

CHICAGO, Jan 20 (Reuters) – A Chinese trade delegation on
Thursday signed agreements to buy $1.8 billion worth of
soybeans from the United States.

The delegation is in Chicago as part of Chinese President
Hu Jintao’s visit to the United States.

CHICAGO, Nov 2 (Reuters) – U.S. agricultural processor
Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported weaker-than-expected
quarterly earnings on Tuesday, hampered by inventory charges
and lower profit in its agricultural services business, sending
shares down nearly 7 percent.

ADM, the world’s largest corn processor and among the
largest U.S. ethanol producers, said net profit fell 30 percent
despite strong corn and oilseed processing results and
better-than-expected revenue.

CHICAGO, Oct 28 (Reuters) – Agricultural processor Bunge
Ltd (BG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported higher-than-expected quarterly operating
profit and said it was on track to meet or beat its full-year
target amid improving oilseed processing margins.

Third-quarter revenue fell short of Wall Street estimates,
but the company said it anticipates a strong fourth quarter.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago Board of Trade grain markets were buzzing on Friday with talk that Russia may be looking to make a rare purchase of U.S. corn, but analysts and cash sources were unable to confirm the rumors that helped send futures higher.

Grain markets have been on edge over likely Russian imports since the country’s worst drought on record devastated its grain crop and triggered a grain export ban that will last at least until late next year.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Freight rates to ship grain by barge to the U.S. Gulf, which surged as much as 50 percent last month, are set to head higher this fall as the corn and soybean harvest builds momentum, likely raising export prices.

But gains could be tempered by price incentives for farmers to sell grain later rather than sooner, and possible autumn rains that could slow the pace of harvest.

CHICAGO, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Freight rates to ship grain by
barge to the U.S. Gulf, which surged as much as 50 percent last
month, are set to head higher this fall as the corn and soybean
harvest builds momentum, likely raising export prices.

But gains could be tempered by price incentives for farmers
to sell grain later rather than sooner, and possible autumn
rains that could slow the pace of harvest.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. wheat prices were mixed on Friday, with nearby contracts falling but wheat for 2011 climbed on worries that a drought in the Black Sea region will leave a third of Russia’s land fallow until next spring.

The nearby wheat contract was down for the fourth time in the last six trading sessions and headed to finish the week down 3 percent after nearly doubling in price since late June.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – More than 250,000 music fans will gather on the shores of Lake Michigan this weekend for an expanded three-day Lollapalooza music festival, which hopes to buck a dismal summer concert season of cuts and cancellations.

The iconic music carnival, born as a traveling road show nearly 20 years ago and reborn in 2005 as a multi-day destination festival, boasts a bill this year of nearly 200 musical acts ranging from glam diva Lady Gaga to reggae legend Jimmy Cliff and punk band Green Day.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – U.S. agricultural processor Archer Daniels Midland (ADM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Tuesday as improving demand and stronger margins in oilseeds and corn processing bolstered results.

For the fiscal fourth quarter that ended June 30, net profit was $446 million, or 69 cents per share, compared with $58 million, or 9 cents a share, in the same quarter a year ago.