Markets To Watch Today

Crude Oil: Crude futures ended the day yesterday lower, as traders recovered from losses that were attributable on news that a top al-Qaida leader was killed yesterday in Iraq. July Crude closed down 4 cents, at $68.94 a barrel.

Currencies: Chicago Mercantile Exchange will begin to offer currency futures on the Chinese Yuan, starting in August 2006. The contract will be versus the U.S. Dollar, Euro and the Yen.

Sugar: World Sugar reached two-week highs on the New York Board of Trade yesterday, as buyers' concerns for dry weather in center-south Brazil increased. Brazil is the top cane-growing region in the world and is expected to break records this year as demand for both sugar and cane-based ethanol grows. July Sugar was up 0.36 cents per pound, to close at 15.21 cents per pound. October, which is the most active contract, was up 0.39 cents, to close at 15.58 cents per pound.