USDA's weekly export sales report, U.S. jobless claims and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor are all due out at 7:30 a.m. CST Thursday. Traders will pause at 8 a.m. to see if USDA has an export sale announcement and check the latest weather forecasts for both South and North America. The U.S. Energy Department reports on natural gas inventory at 9:30 a.m.
Weather
Light to moderate rain showers are in store from the southeastern Plains through the southern and eastern Midwest Thursday. We'll also see periods of snow in the extreme northern Midwest. Other primary crop areas will be dry. A storm system bringing snow to the Intermountain West is on track to be a heavy rain and snow producer in the central U.S. during the coming weekend.