Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday gained for a fourth day in a row, after technical buying and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices offset early-session selling, traders said. June live cattle closed 1.075 cents/lb. higher at 117.45 cents, and August ended up 0.95 cent at 115.3 cents […] Read more
U.S. livestock: More gains for CME live cattle
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up third straight session
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday marked three days of gains, supported by their discounts to last week’s prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle, traders said. June live cattle closed 0.575 cent/lb. higher at 116.375 cents, and August ended up 0.625 cent at 114.35 cents (all figures US$). Cash […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts on Monday landed in positive territory for a second straight session, driven by more short-covering and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, traders said. June live cattle closed 0.875 cent/lb. higher at 115.8 cents, and August ended up 1.3 cents at 113.725 cents (all […] Read more
Klassen: Downward price trend continues for feeder cattle
The feeder cattle market feels like a falling dagger — and trying to pick a bottom can be painful. Western Canadian auction markets saw heavier replacements over 800 lbs. fall $8-$12 compared to last week; calves were generally $5-$8 below week-ago levels. Feedlot buying interest was once again limited to two or three major operations […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close higher, but off highs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Friday reversed some of Thursday’s steep losses, helped by short-covering after investors squared positions on the last trading session for the month, traders said. April live cattle, which expired at noon CT, settled 0.25 cent/lb. higher at 123.1 cents (all figures US$). June, the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Sluggish beef demand sinks CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled sharply lower on Thursday, with the June contract down by its three-cent/lb. daily price limit, as sluggish beef demand threatened to pressure cash prices by Friday, traders said. Lightly-traded April live cattle, which has no limit on the final two days before expiration on […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close lower, but off lows
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled lower on Wednesday after sluggish wholesale beef demand renewed expectations for weak cash prices by Friday, traders said. Short-covering and bargain hunting freed contracts from session lows, they said. April live cattle, which will expire on Friday, closed 0.8 cent/lb. higher at 126 cents, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: More short-covering extends CME live cattle gains
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rallied again on Tuesday, led by more short-covering and sentiments that last week’s selloff was overdone, traders said. April live cattle closed 1.25 cents/lb. higher at 126.8 cents, and June ended 2.15 cents/lb. higher at 118.75 cents (all figures US$). “We saw short-covering because there […] Read more
Klassen: Limited buying interest softens feeder market
Just when I thought feeder cattle prices were stabilizing, once again the unexpected occurs. A sharp rally in U.S. grain futures, along with weaker fed cattle prices, caused western Canadian feeder cattle to trade $6-$12 lower compared to week-ago levels. Auction markets reported limited buying interest, with often only two or three larger feedlots stepping […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering rallies CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Monday, helped by short covering and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, traders said. April live cattle closed 0.825 cent/lb. higher at 125.55 cents, and June ended 1.95 cents/lb. higher at 116.6 cents (all figures US$). Last week, market-ready, or cash, […] Read more