Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday after short-covering and fund buying reversed the previous session’s losses, said traders. In a trading strategy known as bull spreads, traders bought June and simultaneously sold deferred months, stirred by firmer wholesale beef values and future’s discount to expected cash prices […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering boosts CME live cattle
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle buckle under big supply worries
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle prices on Wednesday felt pressure from softer wholesale beef prices and concerns about a looming supply buildup, traders said. Future’s steep discount to this week’s expected prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle limited June market losses, they said. June live cattle closed down 0.625 cent/lb. at […] Read more
Klassen: Seasonable temperatures enhance feeder market
Western Canadian yearling markets were actively trading $2-$5 above week-ago levels while prices in the Lethbridge area were up a solid $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Improving pen conditions, along with a stronger fed cattle market, resulted in a surge of buying interest from southern Alberta operations. Orders from Feedlot Alley […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle rally on Plains cash prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rallied on Friday as cash cattle at U.S. Plains feedlot markets traded at higher prices amid rising beef values and robust packer margins, traders said. Milder temperatures around much of the country following an unusually chilly stretch of early spring weather is lifting demand for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle advance as beef prices push higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures climbed on Wednesday as rising beef prices bolstered beef packer margins and fueled expectations for higher cash cattle prices this week, traders said. CME April live cattle closed 0.825 cent/lb. higher at 121.925 cents, June futures were up 0.525 cent at 105.575 cents and August […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures jump on firm cash, higher beef prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures climbed on Monday in response to higher cash cattle prices late last week and rising beef prices, traders said. Supplies of cattle remain large, but demand for market-ready stock is likely to remain strong due to profitable packer margins and milder weather around the U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end mixed as market weighs big supply
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Tuesday as the spot contract rose on its discount to the cash market while deferred months drifted lower under heavy supplies of cattle, traders said. CME April live cattle closed up 0.775 cent/lb. at 112.8 cents, edging up ahead of the contract’s […] Read more
Strong demand pushing up basis
Reading Time: < 1 minute Strong packer demand in Western Canada has pushed Alberta cash prices for slaughter steers higher than the Nebraska cash price. “Our beef cow herd numbers have been flat compared to the expansion of the U.S. beef cow herd,” said provincial livestock market analyst Jason Wood. “This has been a big driver to keep more cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Stronger fed cattle prices jolt feeder market
Feeder cattle markets came alive last week as fed cattle prices took a fortuitous bounce. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $276-$279 on a dressed basis, up approximately $4 from week-ago levels. Improving beef demand enhanced wholesale beef prices, which quickly spilt over into the cattle complex. Compared to last week, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on beef gains, fund buying
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures climbed to a near two-month high on Wednesday, rising for the third straight session on firm beef prices and investment fund buying, traders and analysts said. A reduced rate of cattle slaughter following a winter storm in the U.S. Plains that disrupted the transportation of animals earlier this […] Read more
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