On the rare occasion that New Yorkers talk about farming, it's usually something along the lines of what sort of organic kale to plant in the vanity garden at the second house in the Adirondacks. But on a recent afternoon, The Observer had a conversation of a different sort about agricultural pursuits with a hedge fund manager he'd met at one of the many dark-paneled private clubs in midtown a few weeks prior. "
African nations are experiencing a surge in protests with Kenya and Uganda joining the fray. Wheat prices have surged more than 87% in Sudan; rice is up 30% in Chad and maize has risen 25% in Uganda, Somalia, Mozambique and Kenya.
The IMF and World Bank chiefs Thursday warned that high food prices and joblessness remain dangerous barriers to the world's economic and social stability despite global macroeconomic gains.
By Michael Ashton
A day after oil prices spiked, they turned around and plunged. The net effect was small: +$2.49 on Friday, -$2.87 on Monday (although at this hour oil continues to plunge, down another $1.50). This volatility is still preferable to the inexorable advance of the prior couple of weeks, but by my read unless front Crude comes back to close below $106.50 or so, the uptrend is still in place.
By George Mack of The Energy Report
Planet Earth is in the midst of a food bull market. Wellington West Capital Markets Managing Director Robert Winslow follows small-cap agricultural stocks that can give investors both diversification and leverage to achieve double-digit percentage growth. In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Robert shares some small-cap names where investors can plant capital and reap vigorous rewards.
Coffee, sugar and cocoa prices will rise five- to 10-fold by 2014 because of shortages that will mean consumers getting “swamped” by food inflation, according to Superfund Financial.
Japan faces a further crisis with concern escalating about radioactive contamination of its food and water, even as the fight to stabilise the earthquake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant appears to be making progress.
HSBC Senior Economist Karen Ward has warned that the UK may face food price riots as a result of rising costs, according to Sky News.
It’s not just more pain at the gas pump courtesy of spiking oil prices that you need to brace for. You’re going to be feeling more pain at the grocery store soon, too, as major food manufacturers say they are planning to raise prices due to soaring commodity costs.
The bidders drove over snow- and ice-covered highways for a chance to own one of the most lucrative properties in the U.S. Midwest: 120 acres of farmland in Greene County, Iowa.
