A stronger dollar index and falling long-term bond prices weighed on most commodities in December. The March dollar index rose 2.68%, while the March U.S. 30-year Treasury bond futures declined 4.81% during the final month of 2024. Precious metals and copper posted across-the-board declines, while crude oil and oil products moved higher. Natural gas rallied over 13% higher on the prospects for cold weather and increased demand, while coal for delivery in Rotterdam dropped more than 5.8%. Corn rallied, while CBOT soybean and wheat futures edged marginally higher. Sugar and cotton prices fell, while coffee rose and reached a new record high before correcting. Cocoa prices rose to a new all-time high and were nearly 24% higher, while FCOJ posted an over 2.26% increase. Cotton moved lower to the 68.40 cents per pound level. Lumber prices dropped.
Live and feeder cattle futures rallied, while the lean hog futures declined.
