Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended up sharply on Monday, driven by active short-covering as some investors prepare for Thanksgiving holiday vacations, traders said. “Some of these guys are so frustrated with market volatility and uncertainty that they’re looking forward to some time off,” a trader said. Spot December finished […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle snap back ahead of holiday

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slide before USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures lost modest ground on Friday, amid caution ahead of Friday afternoon’s cash prices and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle on Feed report, traders said. Analysts expect the report to show fewer cattle placed into feedlots last month than a year ago. Spot December […] Read more

U.S. feedlot cattle placements hit nearly 20-year low
Chicago | Reuters — The number of cattle placed into U.S. feedlots last month declined four per cent from a year ago to their lowest level for October since the government began tabulating the data in 1996, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed on Friday. October’s placement results nearly matched forecasts by analysts, who […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lower beef quote undermines CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Thursday after profit-taking and a drop in the day’s wholesale beef price ended a two-day rally, traders said. Spot December and February finished 1.075 cents/lb. lower at 129.9 and 132.05 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s wholesale choice beef price had fallen […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher for a second day in a row Wednesday, helped by more short-covering as expectations improved regarding cash prices later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 130.975 cents/lb., up 2.95 cents, and February 2.55 cents higher at 133.125 cents (all figures US$). […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle finish strong after wild ride
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed higher on Tuesday amid massive short-covering spurred by higher wholesale beef values that overcame selling led by lower cash price expectations for later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 128.025 cents/lb., up 0.35 cent, and February 0.925 cent higher at 130.575 cents […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle tumble limit down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished Monday’s session down by their three cents/lb. daily price limit after late Friday’s cash prices fell short of expectations, traders and analysts said. Spot December finished at 127.675 cents/lb., and February at 129.65 cents (all figures US$). Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lower cash prices again send CME hogs to six-year low
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts drifted to a six-year low for a second straight day on Friday as plentiful seasonal supplies pulled prices for market-ready (cash) hogs lower, traders said. Spot December finished 0.4 cent/lb. lower at 55 cents, and February ended down 0.3 cent at 58.3 cents. Cash hog […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures fall third straight session
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures lost ground for a third consecutive session on Thursday, pressured by slack wholesale beef demand and preliminary cash price weakness, traders said. Spot December finished at 134.4 cents/lb., down 2.825 cents, and February 2.75 cents lower at 136.9 (all figures US$). On Thursday, packers in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures slump by 3-cents price limit
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled down by their 3-cents per lb daily price limit on Wednesday, in anticipation of weaker prices for market-ready, or cash cattle, traders said. Spot December and February finished at 137.225 and 139.650 cents per lb, respectively. Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded to 4.5 cents on […] Read more