The latest Market Talks covering Commodities. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day.

0248 GMT - Palm oil falls in early Asian trading, weighed by lower soybean oil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade overnight. Technical analysis suggests that CPO futures' bullish momentum has moderated. As long as price holds above 4,525 ringgit a ton, the market bias remains cautiously positive, AmInvestment Bank says in a note. A sustained breakout above 4,612 ringgit a ton could pave the way for a retest of the 4,630 ringgit-4,650 ringgit a ton range, it adds. The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives contract for September delivery is 19 ringgit lower at 4,554 ringgit a ton.(yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0202 GMT - Iron ore strengthens in early Asian trading hours, amid strong demand from China. The ferrous metal is getting a boost from Chinese trade data showing strong demand in the country, ANZ Research analysts say in a note. China's exports surged more than expected in June, with outbound shipments rising 27.0% from a year earlier. The most-traded iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange is 1.2% higher at 762.50 yuan a ton.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)

0115 GMT - Press Metal Aluminium's recent share-price weakness is a buying opportunity as its long-term growth outlook remains intact, RHB IB analyst Iftaar Hakim Rusli says in a note. Aluminum prices are expected to stay above $3,000 a ton in the near to medium term, supported by supply disruptions in the Middle East that are likely to keep the global market in deficit, he says. A stronger dollar could also lift earnings, as more than 90% of the company's products are exported. However, the analyst lowers his 2026-2027 earnings estimates on Press Metal by 3%-5% after revising down aluminum price assumptions and amid higher carbon anode costs. RHB trims Press Metal's target price to 9.80 ringgit from 10.50 ringgit while maintaining a buy rating. Shares are 1.0% lower at 8.11 ringgit. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)

0019 GMT - Gold is steady in the early Asian trade. Broadly higher yields increase the opportunity-cost of holding non-interest-bearing assets like gold, says Swissquote's Ipek Ozkardeskaya in a note. While the $4,000 an ounce support level for the yellow metal appears to be intact, there is "little conviction that further stress across financial markets will drive significant flows into the precious metal," she says. Some central banks could be forced to sell part of their gold reserves to stabilize their currencies as oil prices start to rise, which prevents gold from acting like a safe-haven asset. Still, any price pullback should be viewed as an opportunity for long-term investors, she adds. Spot gold is flat at $4,051.67 an ounce. (megan.cheah@wsj.com)

2053 GMT - Livestock futures are mixed with cattle falling for a 12th straight session, while hogs edge higher. Retail beef demand has remained strong this year despite record prices, although wholesale demand began to weaken in late May, AgResource says in a note. The firm's wholesale demand index has been in the red for eight straight weeks. "Record large imports continue to work against wholesale demand, even as retail demand remains strong," AgResource adds. Live cattle falls 1.4% to $2.31425 a pound. Lean hogs rise 0.4% to 98.45 cents a pound. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1918 GMT - Oil futures add to yesterday's gains but settle off the day's highs after President Trump withdrew a plan to charge a 20% fee to cover the cost of protecting ships through the Strait of Hormuz. "That was exponentially higher than the $1 per barrel that the Iranians were charging," says Mizuho's Robert Yawger. "That cost-of-carry issue is out the window and you see prices coming off accordingly." Yawger expects the U.S. would lift its blockade of Iranian ports when a certain number of ships are seen crossing the strait unmolested by Iran. That could mean 20 to 40 ships a day, well below pre-conflict levels, he says. "That's the new reality until we get some kind of bad deal that everybody can live with." WTI rises 1.5% to $79.34 a barrel and Brent gains 1.7% to $84.73. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1916 GMT - U.S. natural gas futures recover early losses to snap a four-session losing streak, while still struggling to make headway given adequate domestic supply. "Escalating Middle East tensions have lifted global energy prices, but Henry Hub has struggled to benefit because the immediate U.S. balance remains comfortable," Gelber & Associates says in a note. "A sizable storage cushion, softer late-July weather expectations, and reduced LNG demand during terminal maintenance are keeping sellers in control." Nymex natural gas edges up 0.2% at $2.904/mmBtu. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

1907 GMT - As Darden Restaurants' Olive Garden franchise lags, Guggenheim analysts Gregory Francfort and Arian Razai say that investors should appreciate the strengths of the company's smaller brands, including LongHorn, Yard House and Cheddar's. They added Darden is asking more of its smaller brands for both sales and margins, but also development. Store growth for the smaller brands is also accelerating due to a change in Darden's development leadership four years before and Chief Executive Rick Cardenas' view that Darden has previously demanded an excessively wide gap between the internal rate of return for new stores and the cost of capital. (grace.yoon@wsj.com)

The Brazilian government's decision to raise the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline to save on gasoline imports will increase its domestic corn consumption, adding to an existing trend of leaving less corn available for export, Mike Castle of StoneX says in a note. "Brazil's Higher Ethanol Blend to Limit Corn for Export -- Market Talk," at 2:15 p.m ET, incorrectly attributed comments to Arlan Suderman. The note was from Mike Castle.

1815 GMT - The Brazilian government's decision to raise the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline to save on gasoline imports will increase its domestic corn consumption, adding to an existing trend of leaving less corn available for export, Mike Castle of StoneX says in a note. "This is one of the driving forces behind record U.S. corn exports in the current marketing year, as well as USDA's expectation for maintaining near-record exports (3.2 billion bushels) in the year ahead." The Brazilian ethanol will be made from both sugar cane and corn, he notes. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com) Corrections & Amplifications

This was corrected at 2:50 p.m. ET because it incorrectly attributed comments to Arlan Suderman. The Brazilian government's decision to raise the mandatory ethanol blend in gasoline to save on gasoline imports will increase its domestic corn consumption, adding to an existing trend of leaving less corn available for export, Mike Castle of StoneX says in a note.

1746 GMT - Shares of Taco Bell owner Yum Brands are down after The Washington Post reported that federal and state authorities are investigating possible links between the restaurant chain and the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak, citing two people familiar with the investigation. Taco Bell didn't respond to the Post's requests for comments, but reports indicate that some restaurants in Michigan have temporarily pulled items including lettuce, pico de gallo, and guacamole from menus. BTIG analysts wrote last week that extended media coverage tying Taco Bell to the outbreak could impact same-store sales. Shares of Yum Brands fall 2.7%. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)

1739 GMT - Brazil has completed its soybean harvest with production at a record 180.6 million metric tons, up 5.3% from the previous harvest thanks to a larger area planted and favorable weather, government agency Conab reports. Corn production from the three crops in the current cycle is expected to reach 141.7 million tons, while wheat, which is in its final planting stage, is expected to see a production decline of 23.5% to 6 million tons. CBOT wheat futures are up 1.6%, corn is 0.6% lower and soybeans are off 0.2%. (anthony.harrup@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 15, 2026 00:15 ET (04:15 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.