Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. lean hog prices jumped two per cent to the highest in more than two months on Tuesday, extending steep gains from the previous session on hopes of increased export demand, especially to China, traders and analysts said. Expectations that prices may have reached their seasonal bottom also prompted speculative buying […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hogs hit two-month high on export hopes

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs surge on pork export optimism
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. lean hog futures surged about five per cent on Monday, reversing from one-month lows on investor optimism that a weaker dollar would spark increased export demand for pork, traders and analysts said. Live cattle fell to a roughly one-month low while feeder cattle futures declined to lifetime lows at the […] Read more

Chinese demand seen eating into pork supply glut
CNS Canada –– Canadian pork producers have seen increased demand from China in recent weeks, which could boost prices in coming months. Despite turbulence in the China’s economy, an industry specialist says exports should be little affected. Pork prices are sensitive to economic change to an extent, but not as much as non-food markets, said […] Read more

Cattle herd still shrinking in StatsCan estimates
The size of Canada’s cattle herd is still in decline and almost a quarter smaller than its peak in 2005, Statistics Canada reports. The federal statistics agency on Thursday released estimates showing the herd at 13 million cattle on farms on July 1 this year, down 2.1 per cent from the same date in 2014. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Economic fears slam CME live cattle, hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed sharply lower on Friday as global economic turmoil sparked fears of a U.S. meat export slowdown, traders and analysts said. Spot-August futures closed 1.05 cents/lb. lower at 145.425 cents, and October 2.475 cents lower at 143.85 cents (all figures US$). “The elephant in the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rise with cash bids
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday, supported by short-covering after packers hiked bids for unsold market-ready (cash) cattle, traders said. Spot-August futures closed 1.225 cents/lb. higher at 146.475 cents, and October 1.175 cents higher at 146.325 cents (all figures US$). Processors in Kansas and Texas on Thursday […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Fallen cash prices rattle CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures suffered their fourth straight day of losses on Wednesday after digesting sharply lower preliminary prices for market-ready (cash) cattle, traders said. Spot-August futures closed down 1.95 cents/lb. to 145.25 cents, and October 2.25 cents lower at 145.15 cents (all figures US$). Earlier on Wednesday, a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash price caution weakens CME live cattle, hogs
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures lost modest ground on Tuesday, weakened by profit-taking while investors awaited direction from the afternoon’s cash prices, traders said. The spot-October contract closed 0.15 cent/lb. lower at 66.125 cents, and December down 0.05 cent at 62.25 (all figures US$). Prices for market-ready (cash) hogs in […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Firm cash, pork prices lift CME hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures closed higher on Monday, supported by the morning’s cash and wholesale pork price gains, traders said. The spot-October contract closed 0.95 cent/lb. higher at 66.275, and December up 0.35 cent at 62.3 cents (all figures US$). Monday morning’s average cash hog price in the western […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sag with initial cash prices
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Friday after traders pocketed profits following lower preliminary prices for market-ready (cash) cattle, traders said. Spot-August futures closed down 0.4 cent/lb. at 148.45 cents, and October one cent lower at 146.85 cents (all figures US$). Cash cattle traded lightly in Texas at […] Read more