Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts closed higher on Tuesday, strengthened by short-covering and speculative buying in anticipation of tighter seasonal supplies, traders said. Spot February finished 2.2 cents/lb. higher at 61.9 cents, and April ended 1.825 cents higher at 67.3 cents (all figures US$). “Packer margins are strong and I […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Speculative buying rallies CME lean hogs
U.S. livestock: Cash price unease drags on CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Monday, pressured by uncertainty over cash prices later this week, traders said. February live cattle closed 0.65 cent/lb. lower at 132.225 cents, and April ended down 0.775 cent, to 133.05 cents (all figures US$). Typically, cash bids surface around midweek. But a […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end lower after choppy session
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts settled lower following Friday’s volatile session, stirred by funds that sold February and bought deferred contracts in accordance with the Standard + Poor’s Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (S+PGSCI), said traders. Friday was the first of five days of the S+PGSCI “roll” process. Simultaneously, some index […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle tumble limit down
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended Thursday’s session down by their three cents/lb. daily price limit, rattled by lower preliminary cash prices and deteriorating U.S. stock futures amid China’s economic woes, traders said. February live cattle and April ended at 133.525 cents and 134.3 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Live […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Slumping stock market pressures CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts posted modest losses on Wednesday amid investor jitters over fallen U.S. stock futures and uncertainty about cash price direction, traders said. Funds heavily invested in equities typically have a wide range of commodities in their portfolios, including CME livestock. February live cattle closed 0.25 cent/lb. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close mixed ahead of holiday
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mixed on Thursday after investors settled their accounts during the last trading session of the year. The thinly-traded spot December, which expired at noon CT, settled 2.8 cents/lb. higher at 135.8 (all figures US$). February, the new lead month, closed up 0.1 cent/lb. at […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cash price spike drives CME live cattle higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished well into positive territory on Wednesday, led by the steep climb in prices for cash cattle, traders said. Spot December, which will expire on Thursday, closed 2.8 cents/lb. higher at 133 cents, and February ended 1.2 cents higher at 136.7 (all figures US$). “Today […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures sagged for a second straight session on Tuesday, after participants took profits in the year’s final week of trading, traders said. Spot December and February each closed 0.65 cent/lb. lower, at 130.2 and 135.5 cents respectively (all figures US$). Traders adjusted positions while awaiting the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking ends CME live cattle’s win streak
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, hit by profit-taking after gaining five days in a row driven by potential supply shortages as inclement weather moves across the U.S. Plains, traders said. Wintry weather typically slows down cattle weight gains while creating problems for employees and livestock to […] Read more
Wintry blast cuts both ways in U.S. cattle country
Chicago | Reuters — A major winter storm rolling across the U.S. Plains on Monday disrupted transportation of cattle to beef packing plants in sections of the region, said experts. However, they said, the rough weather supported cattle and wholesale beef prices struggling against abundant overall meat supplies and heavyweight animals. The storm, dubbed Goliath, […] Read more
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