Soybean Prices Gain Amid Rally Ahead of USDA Export Sales Report
January 29, 2026, 1:05 AM EST. Soybeans climbed 8 to 9 cents across front months on Wednesday, with the national average cash bean price reaching $10.07 3/4. Soymeal futures rose by $4.30 to $4.60, while soy oil futures dropped 23 points. Investors await Thursday's USDA export sales report, expected to show old crop soybean sales between 0.4 and 1.8 million metric tons (MMT), and new crop sales up to 100,000 metric tons. Soybean meal and oil sales forecasts also vary widely. The price movement reflects cautious optimism as traders digest potential demand data, influencing futures for March, May, and July contracts. Market watchers stay focused on export metrics as key supply-demand indicators for the soy complex.
Corn Futures Rise Amid Weaker Dollar and Wheat Gains
January 29, 2026, 1:01 AM EST. Corn futures advanced Wednesday, rising 3 to 4 ¼ cents amid strength from wheat markets and a weaker U.S. Dollar index. The national average Cash Corn price increased 4 ½ cents to $3.944. Data from the Energy Information Administration showed ethanol production dropped 5,000 barrels per day last week to 1.114 million bpd, while stocks declined by 339,000 barrels to 25.4 million barrels. Ethanol exports decreased 61,000 bpd, but refiner inputs rose by 31,000 bpd. President Trump expressed support for year-round E-15 ethanol availability. Traders await Thursday's Export Sales figures, anticipating 2025/26 corn bookings between 1 to 2.5 million metric tons.
Wheat Prices Rally Midweek on Dollar Weakness and Export Expectations
January 29, 2026, 12:59 AM EST. Wheat futures rose Wednesday across major U.S. markets. Chicago SRW (Soft Red Winter) futures gained up to 14 cents. Kansas City HRW (Hard Red Winter) wheat prices increased by 10 to 12 cents. Minneapolis spring wheat advanced 4 to 5 cents by midday. The weakened U.S. dollar fueled buying support. Traders anticipate the Export Sales report on Thursday, predicting wheat bookings between 275,000 and 600,000 metric tons for the week ending January 22. March 2026 CBOT Wheat futures touched $5.37 1/2. The rally reflects increased demand outlook amid currency shifts. This data influences global wheat market sentiment amid active trading sessions.
Stocks Mixed as Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady, Nasdaq Hits 3-Month High
January 29, 2026, 12:45 AM EST. Stocks closed mixed on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve (Fed) kept interest rates at 3.50%-3.75%, in line with expectations. The S&P 500 fell slightly from a record high, down 0.01%, while the Nasdaq 100 jumped 0.32% to a three-month peak, buoyed by gains in chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks. ASML Holding posted record Q4 bookings of 13.2 billion euros, fueling optimism in semiconductor equipment demand. Better-than-expected earnings from Seagate and Texas Instruments also supported market sentiment. The dollar index rebounded after a recent plunge, influenced by President Trump's comments, which also pushed gold prices to a new peak. Meanwhile, oil prices rose to a four-month high amid geopolitical tensions with Iran. Mortgage applications declined by 8.5% last week as the average 30-year mortgage rate increased to 6.24%. The Fed signaled a wait-and-see approach on future rate changes, citing steady economic growth and inflation risks.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) Sees New Price Target Setting Fresh Valuation Benchmark
January 29, 2026, 12:44 AM EST. Kimberly-Clark's stock receives a new analyst price target, establishing a fresh benchmark for expectations and valuation. Without a prior target for comparison, this update serves as an initial anchor rather than a trend shift. Investors should consider this alongside earnings quality, financial strength, and dividend outlook. The gap between current market price and this target signals differing assumptions between analysts and market consensus, warranting review of investment theses. Future adjustments to the target may reflect reassessments of growth prospects, margins, or risks. Simply Wall St's community narratives provide ongoing investor-driven insights linking company data to fair value, helping track evolving stories around Kimberly-Clark in real time.
ASX 200 dips as RBA tightening jitters hit consumer stocks; tech sector down 8% in January
January 29, 2026, 12:43 AM EST. The ASX 200 faced pressure on January 29, with consumer discretionary stocks retreating amid rising expectations of a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate hike next week. Energy sector reactions were muted despite global volatility. Gold miners hesitated despite a commodity price spike. Australian rare earths stocks plunged following news that the U.S. may reverse plans for price floors on critical minerals, undermining confidence in supply-chain diversification. The information technology sector dropped 8% for January, hitting nine-month lows and nearing a sixth straight month of declines. Conversely, uranium stocks gained as futures rose 8% to $98.25, boosted by heavy buying from Sprott Physical Uranium Trust and concerns over supply tightness and heightened nuclear demand from AI data centers.
EPR Properties Undervalued by 54% After Recent Pullback, DCF Analysis Shows
January 29, 2026, 12:42 AM EST. EPR Properties (EPR) closed at $51.70, down 5.7% over the past week amid renewed investor focus on its experiential real estate portfolio. The stock has returned 19.4% over one year and 83.1% over five years. A Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis values EPR at approximately $112.67 per share, indicating the stock is around 54.1% undervalued relative to its market price. This suggests potential long-term upside as the market reassesses income-focused real estate investment trusts (REITs). Earnings multiples also provide context for valuation, connecting price with current profits. Investors might consider these metrics alongside recent performance and industry outlook to gauge investment opportunities in EPR Properties.
Corporate Governance Reforms Drive Japanese Stocks to New Highs in 2026
January 29, 2026, 12:30 AM EST. Japan's stock market hit record highs in 2026, with the Nikkei 225 up 84.3% and TOPIX up 93.3% in five years, outperforming the S&P 500. This surge stems largely from significant corporate governance reforms targeting Japan's traditional keiretsu system-a network of cross shareholdings that discouraged competition and shareholder returns. Regulatory bodies like the Financial Supervision Agency and Tokyo Stock Exchange have pushed companies to reduce cross shareholdings, improve capital efficiency, and prioritize investor-friendly actions like share buybacks and divestitures. These changes foster increased competition and focus, making Japanese equities more attractive to investors looking for growth beyond product launches or charismatic leadership.
Sensex Drops 600 Points Amid Fed Pause, Foreign Outflows, and Budget Caution
January 29, 2026, 12:29 AM EST. The Sensex fell 560 points to 81,784 on Tuesday, pressured by a cautious mood after the U.S. Federal Reserve maintained interest rates, signaling no near-term cuts. This boosted the dollar and U.S. bond yields, prompting foreign portfolio investors to pull money from emerging markets including India. The weakening rupee, nearing record lows against the dollar, added to market stress, especially hitting financial and IT sectors dependent on overseas funding. Ahead of the Union Budget and Economic Survey this week, investors trimmed holdings amid uncertainty over taxation and fiscal policy. Mixed Q3 earnings further dampened sentiment. Analysts say the decline reflects sentiment rather than fundamentals, with volatility expected to persist until clearer cues emerge from the Fed and budget announcements.
Gulf Marine Services Shows Strong ROCE Growth Amid Stable Capital Employed
January 29, 2026, 12:28 AM EST. Gulf Marine Services (LON:GMS) has demonstrated an 11% return on capital employed (ROCE), closely matching the Energy Services sector average of 12%. Over the past five years, the company's ROCE has surged 290% while capital employed remained relatively flat, reflecting improved operational efficiencies rather than expanding capital base. This trend indicates the business is generating higher returns from existing assets. Investors have rewarded the stock well, though some warning signs exist. Despite not currently boasting the highest returns, Gulf Marine Services displays promising profitability trends worth further analysis. ROCE measures the pre-tax return on investment in the business, essential for assessing capital efficiency.
Rolls-Royce Share Buyback Amid Airbus Supply-Chain Concerns and Valuation Debate
January 29, 2026, 12:27 AM EST. Rolls-Royce Holdings has initiated a large interim share buyback, signaling renewed shareholder returns. The stock traded at £12.08, showing a strong 109.4% return over one year despite a recent 3.7% weekly decline. Airbus has flagged fresh aviation supply-chain issues, posing risks to Rolls-Royce's engine deliveries and aftermarket services. The buyback aims to boost earnings per share but comes with operational uncertainties. Rolls-Royce's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 17.4, below the industry average of 26.0, but valuations appear stretched at 23% above fair value. Investors face a tension between capital return strategies and potential disruption from supply-chain challenges, making watch on buyback pace, guidance shifts, and production updates crucial.
Top Stocks to Buy January 29, 2026: Coal India, Jindal Steel, HCL Technologies
January 29, 2026, 12:00 AM EST.Deputy Vice President Aakash K Hindocha of Nuvama Professional Clients Group highlights top buy calls for January 29: Coal India, Jindal Steel, and HCL Technologies. Nifty recovered over 400 points recently, trading between 25,250 and 25,600 ahead of the Budget Session, with upside limited without a close above 25,660. Bank Nifty shows strength closing above 59,600, signaling potential outperformance. Coal India targets 478 after reaching a 52-week high, driven by bullish momentum and strong money flow. Jindal Steel broke out of a long consolidation with an 8-10% upside expected to 1,200. HCL Technologies maintains a solid position above its 200-day moving average, targeting 1,830 amid sustained technical support. Recommendations reflect analysts' views, not The Times of India's.
