KEY EVENTS TO WATCH FOR:

Friday, December 29, 2017 

8:30 AM ET. U.S. Weekly Export Sales

                       Corn (Metric Tons) (previous 1560.6K)

                       Soybeans (Metric Tons) (previous 1762.9K)

                       Wheat (Metric Tons) (previous 833.2K)

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 

9:45 AM ET. December US Manufacturing PMI

                       PMI, Mfg (previous 53.9)

11:00 AM ET. December Global Manufacturing PMI

                       PMI, Mfg (previous 54)

 The STOCK INDEXES? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=indexes ""

The March NASDAQ 100 closed lower on Thursday.The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 6416.29 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If the NASDAQ 100 resumes this year's rally into record territory, upside targets will be hard to project. First resistance is last Tuesday's high crossing at 6545.75. Second resistance is unknown. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 6416.29. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 6332.21.  

The March S&P 500 closed slightly lower on Thursday as it extends this week's trading range. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 2666.09 are needed to confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If March resumes this year's rally into uncharted territory, upside targets will be hard to project. First resistance is last Tuesday's high crossing at 2697.80. Second resistance is unknown. First support is the 10-day moving average crossing at 2682.74. Second support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 2666.09. 

The Dow gapped up and closed higher on Thursday by gains in technology and bank shares, in seasonally light trading volume in the penultimate trading day of 2017. Jobless claims showed little change for the week coming in at 245,000. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If the Dow extends this year's rally into uncharted territory, upside targets will be hard to project. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 24,521.70 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is last Monday's high crossing at 24,876.07. Second resistance is unknown. First support is the 10-day moving average crossing at 24,730.10. Second support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 24,521.70.    

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March T-bonds closed down 8/32's at 152-23.

March T-bonds posted an inside day with a lower close on Thursday as it consolidated some of this week's rally. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March extends this week's rally, December's high crossing at 154-18 is the next upside target. If March resumes the decline off December's high, October's low crossing at 149-07 is the next downside target. First resistance is December's high crossing at 154-18. Second resistance is the 75% retracement level of the September-October-decline crossing at 154-21. First support is December's low crossing at 150-18. Second support is October's low crossing at 149-07.   

March T-notes closed down 50/32's at 123-265.

March T-notes posted an inside day with a lower close on Thursday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 124.031 are needed to confirm that a low has been posted. If March resumes the decline off September's high, weekly support crossing at 122.205 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 124.031. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 124.134. First support is December's low crossing at 123.125. Second support is weekly support crossing at 122.205.   

ENERGY MARKETS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=energy ""

February crude oil posted a quiet inside day with a higher close on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins. If February extends this week's rally, the 50% retracement level of the 2014-2016-decline crossing at 64.11 is the next upside target. First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 60.00. Second resistance is the 50% retracement level of the 2014-2016-decline crossing at 64.11. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 57.83. Second support is December's low crossing at 55.88. 

February heating oil closed higher on Thursday as it extends this year's rally. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night trading session begins. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If February extends the rally off October's low, the 75% retracement level of the 2014-2016-decline crossing at 208.51 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 194.07 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is Wednesday's high crossing at 205.52. Second resistance is the 75% retracement level of the 2014-2016-decline crossing at 208.51. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 194.07. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 191.08.   

February unleaded gas closed slightly higher on Thursday as it extended this week's rally. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If February extends this month's rally, the May-2015 high crossing at 186.01 is the next upside target. Closes below the 50-day moving average crossing at 172.82 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 181.53. Second resistance is the May-2015 high crossing at 186.01. First support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 172.82. Second support is December's low crossing at 166.19.   

February Henry natural gas closed higher on Thursday and above the 20-day moving average crossing at 2.787 confirming that a short-term low has been posted. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If February extends this week's rally, the 50-day moving average crossing at 3.015 is the next upside target. If February resumes the decline off November's high, weekly support crossing at 2.522 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 3.015. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 3.210. First support is December's low crossing at 2.562. Second support is weekly support crossing at 2.522. 

CURRENCIES? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=currencies ""

The March Dollar closed lower on Thursday as it extends the decline off December's high. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If March extends the decline off last week's, November's low crossing at 92.13 is the next downside target. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 93.39 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. First resistance is December's high crossing at 93.83. Second resistance is November's high crossing at 94.76. First support is November's low crossing at 92.13. Second support is the 75% retracement level of the September-November-rally crossing at 91.69. 

The March Euro closed higher on Thursday while extending the trading range of the past seven-weeks. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above November's high crossing at 120.44 or below the reaction low crossing at 117.97 are needed to confirm a breakout of the aforementioned trading range and point the direction of the next trending move. First resistance is November's high crossing at 120.44. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 121.50. First support is the reaction low crossing at 117.97. Second support is November's low crossing at 116.48.     

The March British Pound closed higher on Thursday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March renews the rally off November's low, September's high crossing at 1.3695 is the next upside target. If March renews the decline off December's high, the 50-day moving average crossing at 1.3339 is the next downside target. First resistance is November's high crossing at 1.3598. Second resistance is September's high crossing at 1.3695. First support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 1.3339. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1.3273.     

The March Swiss Franc closed higher on Thursday breaking out to the topside of the trading range of the past three-weeks. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March renews the rally off October's low, the 50% retracement level of the July-September-decline crossing at 1.0412 is the next upside target. If March resumes the decline off December's high, November's low crossing at 1.0062 is the next downside target. First resistance is December's high crossing at 1.0352. Second resistance is the 50% retracement level of the July-September-decline crossing at 1.0412. First support is December's low crossing at 1.0103. Second support is October's low crossing at 1.0064. 

The March Canadian Dollar closed higher on Thursday and above December's high crossing at 79.31 marking an upside breakout of the trading range for the past two-months. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Today's breakout above December's high crossing at 79.31 opens the door for for a possible test of October's high crossing at 80.42. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 78.37 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 79.62. Second resistance is October's high crossing at 80.42. First support is December's low crossing at 77.52. Second support is the July's low crossing at 77.16. 

The March Japanese Yen closed higher on Thursday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday’s night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 0.8906 would confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March renews the decline off November's high, November's low crossing at 0.8783 is the next downside target. First resistance is November's high crossing at 0.9073. Second resistance is the 62% retracement level of the September-November-decline crossing at 0.9141. First support is December's low crossing at 0.8840. Second support is November's low crossing at 0.8782.  

PRECIOUS METALS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=metals ""

February gold closed higher on Thursday as it extends the rally off December's low due to ongoing weakness in the US Dollar. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher price are possible near-term. If February extends the aforementioned rally, November's high crossing at 1303.40 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 1267.90 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 1297.30. Second resistance is November's high crossing at 1303.40. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 1267.90. Second support is December's low crossing at 1238.30. Third support is the 87% retracement level of the July-September-rally crossing at 1233.90.

March silver closed higher on Thursday as it extends the rally off December's low. The high-range close set the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March extends the aforementioned rally, the reaction high crossing at 17.270 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 16.203 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the reaction high crossing at 17.270. Second resistance is November's high crossing at 17.485. First support is the 10-day moving average crossing at 16.352. Second support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 16.202.     

March copper closed higher on Thursday as it extends the rally off December's low. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices is possible near-term. If March extends the aforementioned rally, the August-2013 high crossing at 334.05 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 311.19 are needed to confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 332.20. Second resistance is the August-13 high crossing at 334.05. First support is the 10-day moving average crossing at 320.29. Second support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 311.19.       

GRAINS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=grains "

March Corn closed down 1 3/4-cents at 3.52. 

March corn closed lower on Thursday ending a six-day rally off December's low. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 3.55 1/2 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March resumes the decline off November's high, weekly support crossing at 3.32 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 3.55 1/2. Second resistance is December's high crossing at 3.60 1/2. First support is December's low crossing at 3.46 1/2. Second support is weekly support crossing at 3.32. 

March wheat closed down 1 1/4-cents at 4.26 3/4. 

March wheat closed lower on Thursday. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.35 1/4 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March resumes the decline off July's high, psychological support crossing at 4.00 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.35 1/4. Second resistance is December's high crossing at 4.60 3/4. First support is December's low crossing at 4.10 1/2. Second support is psychological support crossing at 4.00.    

March Kansas City Wheat closed up 1 1/4-cents at 4.26 3/4. 

March Kansas City wheat closed higher on Thursday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.33 1/2 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March resumes the decline off September's high, psychological support crossing at 4.00 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.33 1/2. Second resistance is reaction high crossing at 4.51 1/2. First support is December's low crossing at 4.10 1/2. Second support is psychological support crossing at 4.00.  

March Minneapolis wheat closed down 2 1/4-cents at 6.19. 

March Minneapolis wheat closed lower on Thursday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 6.29 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March renews the decline off November's high, the 87% retracement level of the April-July-rally crossing at 5.89 1/2 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 6.29. Second resistance is December's high resistance crossing at 6.34. First support is December's low crossing at 6.05. Second support is the 87% retracement level of the April-July-rally crossing at 5.89 1/2. 

SOYBEAN COMPLEX? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=grains "

March soybeans closed down 11-cents at 9.56 1/2. 

March soybeans closed lower on Thursday as it renewed the decline off December's high. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If March extends this month's decline, the late-August low crossing at 9.50 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 9.85 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 9.85. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 9.93 1/2. First support is September's low crossing at 9.56 1/2. Second support is the late-August low crossing at 9.50.

March soybean meal closed down $2.60 at 315.90. 

March soybean meal closed lower on Thursday as it extends the decline off December's high. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If March extends the decline off December's high, November's low crossing at 315.00 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 328.00 would confirm that a low has been posted. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 324.40. Second resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 328.00. First support is Wednesday's low crossing at 315.70. Second support is November's low crossing at 315.00.

March soybean oil closed down 53 pts. At 32.74. 

March soybean oil closed lower on Thursday as it renewed the decline off November's high. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Friday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but are turning neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If March extends the decline off November's high, June's low crossing at 32.20 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 33.41 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 33.41. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 34.22. First support is today's low crossing at 32.52. Second support is June's low crossing at 32.20.

LIVESTOCKhttp://quotes.ino.com/exchanges/?c=livestock 

April hogs closed up $0.43 at $75.70. 

April hogs closed higher on Thursday as it extends the rally off December's low. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If April extends the rally off December's low, November's high crossing at 75.90 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 73.34 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the reaction high crossing at 75.82. Second resistance is November's high crossing at 75.90. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 73.35. Second support is December's low crossing at 70.97. 

February cattle closed up $1.25 at 122.25. 

February cattle closed higher on Thursday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If February extends this week's rally, the 50-day moving average crossing at 123.67 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 118.15 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 123.67. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 126.78. First support is December's low crossing at 117.58. Second support is the 75% retracement level of the August-November-rally crossing at 115.06.

March Feeder cattle closed up $0.50 at $142.23. 

March Feeder cattle closed higher on Thursday as it consolidates some of the decline off November's high. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Friday's session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish hinting that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 144.04 would confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March resumes the decline off November's high, the 87% retracement level of the February-October-rally crossing at 137.19 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 144.04. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 149.32. First support is last Friday's low crossing at 138.30. Second support is the 87% retracement level of the February-October-rally crossing at 137.19.   

FOOD & FIBERhttp://quotes.ino.com/ex changes/?c=food 

March coffee closed higher on Thursday and above the 20-day moving average crossing at 12.32 confirming that a short-term low has been posted. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March extends the rally off December's low, the 50-day moving average crossing at 12.66 is the next upside target. If March renews the decline off November's high, weekly support crossing at 11.34 is the next downside target. 

March cocoa closed higher on Thursday as it extended the rebound off Monday's low. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish hinting that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 19.15 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If March renews the decline off November's high, weekly support crossing at 17.91 is the next downside target. 

March sugar closed higher on Thursday as it extends the rally off December's low. The high-range close set the stage for a steady to higher opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March extends the aforementioned rally, November's high crossing at 15.49 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10-day moving average crossing at 14.42 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted.

March cotton closed slightly lower on Thursday as it consolidates some of the rally off October's low. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If March extends the rally off October's low, weekly resistance crossing at 80.67 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 75.00 are needed to confirm a short-term top has been posted.