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Call Us: 312-277-0050   Research and Recommendations     Get expert commentary and perspective on today's markets from some of the most respected names in the industry.  Zaner experts have been quoted in Dow Jones Newswires, CME, CBOT & MGEX exchange publications, Futures Magazine, Stocks and Commodities Magazine, Forbes, BarChart.com, Tradingmarkets.com, CommodityTrader.com, Financial Engineering News, Risk Controlled Investing and many other publications. Zaner Group has been continuously regulated since 1982 and is registered with the CFTC and is a member of National Futures Association (NFA), National Introducing Brokers Association (NIBA), Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Illinois Chamber of Commerce.  How to open a trading account MORNING MARKET OVERVIEW Trade Recommendations | Financial Commentary | Agricultural Commentary | Energy & Softs Commentary Our comprehensive morning commodities market overview is a first stop for many of our customers. Zaner's Daily Advisory offers a range of commodity futures and options reports, commodities market recommendations and trade analysis broken down by market sector. HOT TOPICS PRODUCER PRICE INDEX and CONSUMER PRICE INDEX What are these numbers and why do investors care? This morning (7:30 am Central; Thurs., Dec 15) the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the PPI for November. The actual figure was +0.3% (against a concensus of -0.3 to +0.6). Producer price inflation picked up in November but it was due to food, not energy. Producer prices rebounded 0.3 percent after falling 0.3 percent in October. Turning to major components, energy rose 0.1 percent, following a 1.4 percent drop in October. Gasoline actually dipped 0.1 percent, following a 2.4 percent decrease in October. Food cost inflation spiked to a 10 percent gain after decelerating to a 0.1 percent rise in October. At the core level, the PPI gained a modest 0.1 percent, following no change in October. For the core, upside pressure came from passenger cars and pharmaceuticals with a decline in prices for light trucks softening the overall core. On the news, stock index futures jumped (and as of 8:00 am Central, Dec 15) our HeatMap shows the stock index sector up a composite 0.5% The PPI measures prices at the producer level before they are passed along to consumers. Since the producer price index measures prices of consumer goods and capital equipment, a portion of the inflation at the producer level gets passed through to the consumer price index (CPI). By tracking price pressures in the pipeline, investors can anticipate inflationary consequences in coming months. Tomorrow morning (Dec 16) at 7:30 am Central we&#39ll get the November Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures. Last month the CPI was down 0.1%; the concensus for the November Index is up 0.1%. The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the change in the average price level of a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by consumers. That is the index shows the change in price levels since the index base period, currently 1982-84 = 100. Monthly changes in the CPI represent the rate of inflation. The consumer price index is the most widely followed monthly indicator of inflation. An investor who understands how inflation influences the markets will benefit over those investors that do not understand the impact. Inflation is an increase in the overall prices of goods and services. The relationship between inflation and interest rates is the key to understanding how indicators such as the CPI influence the markets- and your investments. Subscribers to Markethead.com can read more commentary and analysis on these two economic releases, and see Friday&#39s CPI #s, but going to the NEWS tab and clicking Economic Calendar. Once you&#39re in the Calendar, click on the icon representing the particular economic report you wish to follow. Trading in futures and options is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss. All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed. ANALYST COMMENTARY Rick Alexander: Today's Feature 312-277-0107 | ralexander@zaner.com FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING IS SPECULATIVE IN NATURE AND INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS. THEREFORE, FUTURES AND OPTIONS TRADING IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS. MEATS:12/15/11 Higher for live cattle but lower for the feeder cattle and lean hogs. The charts below show, in my opinion, how toppy the meat complex looks. Cattle has little resistance up to the 12250 area while the feeders also look very weak overall with little support down to the 140 area. There is very good support for the January contract below 140 and heavy resistance above 145 which could help define the feeders trading range for a while. Also, they did rally today to end up near their session&#39s high.  Hogs are near a very critical 8500 area after making their worst close since September 6th and looking like they&#39re in a BEAR PENNANT. SIGNALS FOR LIVE AND FEEDER CATTLE ALONG WITH LEAN HOGS. CALL FOR DETAILS!        Click here to read Rick's full story and thoughts on other markets he follows... Futures, options and forex trading is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss.  All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed. Larry Baer: Today's Feature 312-277-0112 | lbaer@zaner.com  Click here to read Larry's full story and thoughts on other markets he follows... Futures, options and forex trading is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss.  All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed. Judy Crawford: Today's Feature 312-277-0133 | jcrawford@zaner.com ARE THE BEAR MODE IN MARKETS OVER WITH?  Click on the link for more detail.  Click here to read Judy's full story and thoughts on other markets she follows... Futures, options and forex trading is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss.  All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed. Matt McKinney: Today's Feature 312-277-0115 | mmckinney@zaner.com OPTIONS PLAY: CRUDE, CRUDE, CRUDE The NYMEX CRUDE OIL market pulled back today amid Euro worries and an OPEC vow.  Click here to read Matt McKinney's full story and thoughts on other markets he follows... Futures, options and forex trading is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss.  All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed.                Futures, options and forex trading is speculative in nature and involves substantial risk of loss.  All known news and events have already been factored into the price of the underlying commodities discussed. 150 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2350 · Chicago, IL 60606 · Direct: 312-277-0050 Fax: 312-277-0150 · info@zaner.com Copyright © 2010 Zaner Group LLC. All Rights Reserved.