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 undercuts CME live cattle futures

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

U.S. livestock: Strong beef prices lift CME live cattle again
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures notched gains for a fifth consecutive session on Thursday, fuelled by the recent rise in wholesale beef prices in anticipation of tight near-term supplies, traders said. CME livestock futures closed at noon CT in observance of the Christmas holiday. Spot December settled 2.5 cents/lb. higher […] Read more

U.S. hog herd slowly expands as farmer profit shrinks
Reuters — The U.S. hog herd grew slightly in the September-November quarter versus a year ago, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed on Wednesday, amid increased supplies as the industry recovers from a deadly pig virus hurt that farmer profit, said analysts. “Concern about profitability was a major issue. What kept producers from really […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle surge with cash prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, following stronger-than-expected cash prices as wintry weather takes aim at the southern U.S. Plains, traders said. Spot December ended 2.2 cents/lb. higher at 125.6 cents, and February was 1.775 cents higher at 131.8 cents (all figures US$). On Tuesday, a small […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live, feeder cattle extend rally
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Monday ended sharply higher, with the February contract up the expanded 4.5-cent/lb. price limit, on more short-covering following Friday’s bullish government cattle report, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle on Feed report on Friday showed the number of cattle placed into U.S. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rally limit-up before report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled up by their three-cent/lb. price limit Friday, driven by short-covering and technical buying, traders said. Investors tweaked positions ahead of Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle on Feed report at 2 p.m. CT. Spot December ended at 120.15 cents, and February 125.525 cents, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sink to three-year bottom
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday slid to their lowest level in three years, pressured by more losses price-wise for unsold cash cattle, traders said. Spot December ended down 2.825 cents/lb. to 117.15 cents, and made a new contract low of 116.975 (all figures US$). February finished 2.45 cents […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash price caution drags CME live cattle lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Wednesday, weighed down by investor caution while waiting for the remainder of cash cattle to change hands, traders said. Spot December ended down 0.325 cent/lb., to 119.975 cents, and February 0.55 cent lower at 124.925 (all figures US$). So far, a few market-ready […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash price caution tempers CME live cattle rally
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished moderately higher on Tuesday, after uneasiness about cash prices later this week pulled contracts from initial short-covering highs, traders said. Spot December ended up 0.775 cent/lb. to 120.3 cents, and February 1.125 cents higher at 125.525. Those who had been short futures covered those […] Read more