USDA's weekly export sales report is due out at 7:30 a.m. CST Thursday, the same time as weekly U.S. jobless claims and updates of third-quarter U.S. GDP and the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Conference Board's U.S. index of leading indicators from November will be out at 9 a.m., but weather will get most of the day's attention with bone-chilling temperatures and snow fanning out across the central U.S. Traders will also keep an eye on South American forecasts.
Weather
An arm of the polar vortex is sweeping through the middle of the country on Thursday. Very cold temperatures are filling in behind a cold front, which is producing a band of snow as well. Winds behind the front are intense and areas that have snow cover will see blizzard conditions developing. The southwestern Plains may see cold damage on wheat over the next couple of mornings while livestock are at extreme risk.