Financial Wire

US Biofuels Update: Strait of Hormuz Reopening Pushes Soybean Oil Futures Lower

-- Biofuels feedstock futures closed mixed on Friday, as soybean futures rose while soybean oil dropped, both caught up in a risk-off trading day amid the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in Iran.

The Chicago Board of Trade May soybean futures contract closed 0.30% higher at $11.67 per bushel, and the CBOT May soybean oil futures contract settled 1.69% lower at 68.16 cents per pound.

On Thursday, the May ethanol futures contract on the Nymex ended 0.52% lower at $1.90 per gallon.

Rhett Montgomery, DTN analyst, said that the soybean market bulls will be looking for reassurance of the previously indicated 25 million metric tons of export demand from China through 2026-27 in next month's Summit.

"At this point, it is apparent that the soybean market is weighing the tradeoffs to a conclusion of hostilities in the Middle East of lower energy prices but potentially improved US-China relations ahead of President Trump's visit in May, as a net positive to the soybean market over the long run," Montgomery stated in a daily note.

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Money Managers Remain Net Long in Biofuel Futures, Options Markets, CFTC COT Says

Money managers remain bullish or net long in the biofuel futures and options markets, according to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission's weekly Commitments of Traders Report released Friday.The weekly COT Report, as of the week ending April 14, showed that money managers are net long, a bet that the market will go higher, in the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard market by 60,537 contracts.The COT report showed that money managers are holding a net long position of 2,073 contracts in the D6 Renewable Identification Numbers Current Year futures and options markets.In the D4 Biodiesel RINS Current Year futures and options markets, money managers hold a net long position of 3,159.For ethanol, money managers are net long by 7,222 contracts in the futures and options markets.Money managers are net long soybean oil futures and options by 148,320 contracts, after cutting 1,271 longs and adding 1,091 short positions from a week ago.Money managers are net short the Malaysian palm oil futures by 865 contracts.

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North Sea Crude Drops $7/bbl, Brent Plunges 13% After Hormuz Reopening, Bloomberg Analysis Says

North Sea crude prices shed as much as $7 per barrel, while Brent slid 13% near $86/bbl after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, according to a Bloomberg analysis on Friday.Key North Sea grades and US WTI Midland fell $5 to $7/bbl in a Platts pricing window run by S&P Global, reflecting a sharp shift in sentiment following the announcement, the analysis said.WTI Midland weakened to a $10.40/bbl premium over Dated Brent, marking its lowest level this month and dropping more than 50% from its Apr. 14 peak, the analysis added.The price drop followed comments from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who declared the strait fully open, easing fears about constrained global oil flows.Despite the reopening signal, a US naval blockade remains in place, while Iranian media indicated transit could be halted again if the US blockade continues, the analysis said.Brent futures fell about 13% after Araghchi's statement, underscoring how quickly geopolitical developments are reshaping expectations for supply availability.North Sea crude had surged to record highs earlier in the month amid supply shortages tied to the strait's closure, though sentiment began turning as offers started exceeding bids in recent days.

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Rush Street Interactive Insider Sold Shares Worth $1,114,006, According to a Recent SEC Filing

Judith Gold, Director, on April 17, 2026, sold 48,286 shares in Rush Street Interactive (RSI) for $1,114,006. Following the Form 4 filing with the SEC, Gold has control over a total of 119,597 Class A common shares of the company, with 119,597 shares held directly.SEC Filing:https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1793659/000183572926000006/xslF345X05/wk-form4_1776459825.xml

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