Insights and Stories of Rod Nickel

Jul. 6, 2012 at 5:12 pm CDT

U.S. grain markets Friday snapped a furious three-week rally that had sent corn prices up more than a third since mid-June, as a downbeat U.S. jobs report provided an excuse for traders to book profits. Although new U.S. Midwest forecasts showed only marginal relief from what may be the worst […]

By Julie Ingwersen, Rod Nickel

Jul. 5, 2012 at 8:03 pm CDT

U.S. corn surged nearly four per cent on Thursday, extending one of its biggest rallies ever, while soybeans jumped to within 20 cents of their record high as new forecasts offered no sign of rain relief for withering crops. With fields now at the mercy of what may be the […]

By Mark Weinraub, Rod Nickel

Mar. 19, 2012 at 6:06 pm CDT

Commodities giant Glencore, partnered with Winnipeg’s Richardson International and Calgary’s Agrium, is close to a deal to buy Viterra, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Viterra and Swiss-based commodities trader Glencore are still in talks on price, but a deal could be reached within the next 24 hours […]

By Michael Erman, Rod Nickel

Mar. 16, 2012 at 2:39 pm CDT

Glencore is planning a three-way carve-up of Canada’s largest grain handler Viterra, an industry source said, to help navigate a politically charged federal review process if it wins a looming bidding war for the company. The source told Reuters that the commodity trading giant wanted to buy all of Viterra […]

By Rod Nickel, Victoria Howley

Mar. 15, 2012 at 4:46 pm CDT

Canada’s largest grain handler said Thursday it has opened its books to potential buyers, setting the stage for a possible bidding war and sending its shares nine per cent higher. Viterra said in a statement it has established a process for considering expressions of interest, including confidentiality agreements. It shed […]

By Rod Nickel, Victoria Howley