USDA's weekly export sales report, weekly U.S. jobless claims and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor are all due out at 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday. ISM's index of U.S. manufacturing for March is set for 9 a.m., followed by natural gas inventory from the Energy Department at 9:30 a.m. A monthly Fats and Oils report from NASS at 2 p.m. includes the soybean crush for February. U.S. futures markets are closed Friday.
Weather
With a front moving off the East Coast, quiet conditions are expected across the primary growing regions for Thursday, though there are some lake-effect snow showers in the eastern Great Lakes. Temperatures will be below normal for most of these areas as well. Temperatures below freezing Thursday morning and Thursday night could produce some light damage to vulnerable winter wheat.