USDA's weekly export sales report is set for 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday, the same time as weekly U.S. jobless claims, first quarter U.S. GDP and an update of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The U.S. Energy Department's weekly report of natural gas supplies follows at 9:30 a.m. and traders will continue to pay close attention to the latest weather forecasts.
Weather
Disturbances moving through the Corn Belt will bring rounds of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday, especially from Nebraska to Indiana. Some of these storms may become severe with wind and hail the most likely threats and centered on Illinois, where the rain would be most welcome. South of this zone of precipitation, heat continues to build with triple digits extending up into Missouri and perhaps southern Illinois.