USDA's weekly export sales report is due out at 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday, along with weekly jobless claims and updates of U.S. second-quarter GDP and the U.S. Drought Monitor. The U.S. Energy Department's weekly report of natural gas inventories is set for 9:30 a.m. Traders continue to pay close attention to the latest weather forecasts and any news of export sales.
Weather
Severe storms that went through the Upper Midwest along a cold front on Wednesday continue across the eastern Midwest on Thursday while continuing to push southeast. This will bring moderate to heavy rainfall for some areas of the southern Midwest and a risk for continued strong winds and hail as well. Temperatures behind the front have cooled significantly and will put an end to the heat as the front continually pushes south through the weekend.