Quick Overview

• U.S. jobless claims rose 16,000 last week to 317,000, more than expected.
  

• U.S. factory orders fell 3.3% in August.
  

• The Bank of England and the European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged.
  

• Brazil predicted that the soybean crop will total 59.7 million tons in 2007-2008, up slightly from this year's harvest. They also predicted a 52.3 million ton corn crop, up from 51.0 million tons this year.
  

• The U.S. Department of Energy said that underground supplies of natural gas were up 57 billion cubic feet to 3.263 trillion cubic feet. Supplies are down 2% YoY.
  

• Canada estimated its wheat crop at 20.64 million tonnes, up slightly from the July guess of 20.3 million tonnes. This compares to 25.27 million tonnes last year.
  
  

• So far this year, Asian soybean rust has been found in 162 U.S. counties. More than likely not causing much damage to this year's crop.