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Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, reported that sales in the U.S. fell 27-percent in August, marking the 21st decline in the past 22 months. Car and light-truck sales in the U.S. are expected to reach the lowest level since 1993.

December silver settled 19.8 cents lower at $12.947 an ounce, and October settled $11.30 lower at $1,392.20 an ounce, December copper settled 3.90 cents higher at $3.3120 a pound.

Grains

Soybeans closed 3.4-percent lower today, with the November contract settling 47 cents lower at $12.51 1/2 a bushel. Rain in the Midwest totaling 1 inch in some areas over the past day, with expectations for another 2 to 3 inches on the way, is expected to boost crop conditions and increase yields.

About 57-percent of the soybean crop was rated good to excellent as of Aug. 31, down from 61-percent a week earlier and 56-percent a year earlier. About 61-percent of the corn was rated good or excellent, down from 64-percent a week earlier and 59-percent a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said yesterday.

Corn closed 1.2-percent lower today, with the December contract settling 7 cents lower at $5.62 1/4 a bushel. Improving soil moisture, falling energy prices and the climbing dollar was noted for corn’s decline.

September wheat closed 8 cents higher at $7.52 1/4 a bushel, September rice settled 29 cents higher at $1844 a short ton, December soy-meal settled $13.40 lower at $342.00 per short ton, and December soy-oil settled 159 points lower at 51.24 cents per pound.

Softs

Orange juice closed unchanged today, with the November contract settling at $1.0620 a pound. Orange juice bounced higher on the open after falling 5.3-percent yesterday, before selling pressure in sympathy of further commodity weakness left the market unchanged on the session.

Cocoa closed .5-percent higher today, with the December contract settling $14 higher at $2,678 a metric ton. Speculation that cold wet conditions in the Ivory Coast could promote the spreading of black pod disease and strike the largest cocoa producer was noted for slight gain in cocoa today.