Quick Thoughts

Posted by Nogger - a legend in his own mind at 08:50 | Categorized as

23/05/11 -- Got to pop out for an hour shortly, so this is just a quickie. Wet and windy was the form for North Yorks this weekend, although the rain gauges aren't showing anything like the volume that seemed to fall.

Some very sharp showers about, but also clearly very localised. My local rain gauge says 2mm Fri, nothing Sat and 3.3mm Sun for a 28.2mm total for the month so far. Certainly I'm surprised that the weekend totals are so low.

There doesn't seem to be much in the forecast for the SE again this week, unfortunately.

French farmers blockaded a stretch of the main A10 motorway that links Paris and Bordeaux at the weekend in a demonstration against government limitations on water usage, according to Bloomberg.

May London wheat goes off the board today, so anything could happen with that.

The euro is off to a bad start, with the pound rising above 1.15 against the single currency to it's highest levels since mid-March as ratings agencies cut their view on risk for Italy and Greece.

Another Icelandic volcanic eruption over the weekend could do more damage to the European economy it is feared.

Crude is down a couple of dollars as the USD rises.

The overnight grains are mixed, weighed down by dollar strength.

The USDA will report tonight on planting progress and crop conditions after the close of Chicago.