USDA's weekly report of export sales is due out at 7:30 a.m. CST Thursday, the same time as weekly U.S. jobless claims, a report of U.S. retail sales in November and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. At 9:15 a.m., the Federal Reserve's report on U.S. industrial production for November will be out, followed by the U.S. Energy Department's report of natural gas storage at 9:30 a.m. and the November soybean crush report from the National Oilseeds Processors later Thursday morning. Traders will keep watch over the latest weather forecasts and outside market behavior after Wednesday's half-percent rate hike from the Federal Reserve.
Weather
A slow-moving, strong storm system continues to produce widespread weather impacts to the country on Thursday. Heavy snow is falling in bursts across the Upper Midwest and Dakotas and a line of precipitation is moving through the Eastern Seaboard. Winds are still high on the backside of the system across the Northern Plains, producing blizzard conditions. Colder air is filling in behind the cold front through most of the country.