June gold fell $33.70 to $887.80, unwinding the bull market that took prices as high as $1,038 just over two weeks ago.

Grains and Cotton

July soybeans started the day lower in the aftermath of yesterday's planting estimates, but finished up 19 cents at $12.34. The USDA predicted that 74.8 million acres of soybeans will be planted this spring, up 18% from a year ago.

July corn closed up 16 cents at a new contract low of $5.98 after the USDA said yesterday that this spring's planting will be down 8% from a year ago.

May cotton closed up 1.11 at 70.45, in sympathy with corn and soybeans. The USDA said yesterday that 9.4 million acres of cotton will be planted this spring, down 13% from a year ago.

Livestock

June hogs closed down 1.52 at 66.42, still under pressure from Friday's heavy inventory report.

Sugar

July sugar closed down .15 at 11.97, the lowest close in two months, pressured by softer energy prices and a rise in the U.S. dollar.

Energies

May crude oil closed down .60 at $100.98, pressured by a rise in the U.S. dollar.

Metals

June gold fell $33.70 to $887.80, unwinding the bull market that took prices as high as $1,038 just over two weeks ago.

Currencies

The unemployment rate in the Euro area (15) remained unchanged at 7.1% in February. The June euro fell 1.81 cents to $1.5548.

The Reserve Bank of Australia met and kept its interest rate unchanged at 7.25%, the highest rate in 12 years, even though they still expect inflation to remain high. The June Australian dollar closed down .75 at 89.66.

Statistics Canada said that its index of industrial product prices was up .1% in February, but down .8% from a year ago.