Short-covering lifts U.S. live cattle futures

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures closed moderately higher on Monday, drawing support from short-covering after three straight losing sessions, analysts and traders said. They said firmer wholesale beef prices encouraged buyers. U.S. Department of Agriculture data Monday morning quoted wholesale choice beef at $196.22 per hundredweight (cwt), up 46 cents from Friday; select […] Read more

U.S. live cattle futures slide with beef prices

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures sagged on Thursday in anticipation of steady-to-weaker cash cattle prices as wholesale beef values turned lower, analysts and traders said. U.S. Department of Agriculture data on Thursday showed wholesale choice beef at $196.32 per hundredweight (cwt), down $1.17 from Wednesday. Select cuts fell 87 cents to $195.13. Cash […] Read more


U.S. hog futures fall, uncertain cash prices cited

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures fell on Wednesday, pressured by uncertainty regarding near-term cash hog prices, said traders and analysts. U.S. Department of Agriculture data Wednesday showed the average hog price in the most-watched Iowa/Minnesota market at $73.71. It was $1.09 lower after being up 83 cents on Tuesday (all figures US$). "There is […] Read more

Beef prices boost U.S. live cattle futures

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures moved higher on Tuesday, lifted by short-covering after wholesale beef prices resumed their uptrend, said traders and analysts. U.S. Department of Agriculture data late on Tuesday showed wholesale choice beef at $197.28 per hundredweight (cwt), up 40 cents from Monday (all figures US$). Select cuts gained 10 cents […] Read more



U.S. live cattle futures drop as funds sell

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures on Friday settled lower as fund liquidation dragged contracts down 1.8 per cent for the week, said traders and analysts. They said uncertainty about cash cattle prices next week pressured CME live cattle futures. The potential furlough of meat inspectors, which could shut down some packing plants, kept […] Read more






U.S. agribusiness frets over sequestration

U.S. farmers and agribusiness companies are worried that across-the-board federal budget cuts will snarl the supply channels for everything from milk and broiler chickens to grain shipments, but many are hopeful that the Obama administration and Republican opponents will find a compromise before major disruptions hit the food system. Most immediate concerns center on federal […] Read more