Markets

WEBINAR: Water Financialization 101

On Wednesday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m., the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Blue Planet Project, Food & Water Watch and Transnational Institute hosted a webinar about water futures and financialization. 

Revisiting Crisis by Design: Agricultural commodity exposure to financial market instruments and risks

The interconnectedness between farmers and the financial system, as well as between agricultural commodities and price risk management tools, has increased dramatically in recent years. Relentless industry opposition to rules designed to prevent and limit excessive speculation by financial entities continues to make even limited reforms difficult to enforce.

USDA helps High Frequency Traders now; promises help for farmers later

On July 10, USDA announced a change to the decades old policy of releasing its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) first to accredited media representatives and 90 minutes later to the public. In theory, the media interpret WASDE information to the benefit of their subscribers, including traders. But starting in August, the media will receive the WASDE report at the same time as everyone else, due to a policy change made with the analytic assistance of the Commodity Trading Futures Commission.