Thursday's reports begin with weekly export sales, weekly U.S. jobless claims, U.S. fourth-quarter productivity and an update of the U.S. Drought monitor, all at 7:30 a.m. CST. U.S. factory orders follow at 9 a.m. and the Energy Department reports on natural gas inventory at 9:30 a.m. Any export sales news and the latest weather forecasts continue to hold trader interest.
Weather
Cold conditions with snow and strong winds are in store for northern and central areas Thursday. Blizzard warnings are in effect in the western Midwest and wind chill bulletins through the weekend are noted in the northern Plains. This combination is unfavorable for transportation with safety hazards and livestock stress. In the southern Plains, strong winds are unfavorable for winter wheat.