Congress returns to session this week and there are only nine legislative days on the calendar. The rise of the debate over the proper foreign policy response to Syria will have a significant impact on this reduced schedule. To recap, Congress must pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government for FY 2014, which begins on 1 October. Additionally, the authorization of the Commodity Exchange Act expires on 30 September, as does the farm bill. Moreover, the federal government is expected to exceed the debt ceiling limit (which is set at a debt amount, not a date in time) by mid-October and that is likely to have a package of spending cuts attached to it.There is even talk of the House Energy and Commerce Committee having a draft o...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets are mixed with Capesize rates seeing solid gains while Panamax values slipped on a growing tonnage list. Supramax and Handysize vessels were stronger, though all sectors remain vulnerable to the seasonal dip in rates through Q4 and into Q1. Falling water l...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.