USDA's weekly export sales will be released Friday, due to this week's holiday schedule, but weekly U.S. jobless claims and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor are still on track for 7:30 a.m. CDT releases Thursday, along with a report on first-quarter U.S. productivity. At 9:30 a.m., the Energy Department's weekly report of natural gas storage is out, followed by weekly energy inventories at 11 a.m. Traders will stay up on the latest weather forecasts and watch for a possible export sales announcement at 8 a.m.
Weather
A front will continue to slowly move southeast through the country on Thursday. It will also be active with areas of showers and thunderstorms occurring from Texas to the Mid-Atlantic. Some of this rain will be heavy and could produce some flooding. Areas north of the front will remain dry, with drainage promoted in the wet areas around North Dakota and northwest Minnesota for another day.