Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures closed higher on Friday, supported by short covering before the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly hog report expected at 2 p.m. CT, traders said. Analysts expect Friday’s report to show further herd expansion during the March through May quarter compared with a year earlier. “The […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hogs gain on short covering before USDA report

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle limit down as corn prices jump
Chicago | Reuters — Lightly-traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures closed down their 4.5-cent per pound maximum daily limit on Thursday following double-digit corn market gains, traders said. Chicago Board of Trade corn futures surged as much as three per cent on worries heavy rainfall could reduce U.S. Midwest crop belt yield potential. High-priced […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend losses, hogs mixed
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle losses on Tuesday spilled over into Wednesday, pressured by sell stops and fund liquidation despite sharply higher wholesale beef values, traders said. June closed 1.325 cents per pound lower at 150.675 cents (all figures US$). August finished down 1.5 cents at 150.325 cents after falling below […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat, hogs end mixed
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle turned lower on Monday, pressured by profit-taking and futures’ modest premiums to last week’s cash prices, traders said. June closed 0.45 cent per pound lower at 152 cents, and August was down 0.075 cent, to 151.825 cents (all figures US$). Futures changed from being at a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures turn back early selling
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Monday, reversing initial weakness helped by short-covering and the morning’s wholesale beef price bounce, traders said. June closed up 0.55 cents per pound at 152.45 cents, and August 1.225 cents higher at 151.9 cents (all figures US$). Monday morning’s wholesale choice beef […] Read more

Fewer cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in May than anticipated
Chicago | Reuters –– The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots last month was lower than anticipated, a government report showed on Friday, reflecting healthy pastures that allowed ranchers to grow livestock longer outside of feedyards, said analysts. Producers retained more heifers to help restore the U.S. cattle herd, now at its third lowest […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rally before USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Friday gained for the first time in seven sessions, partly buoyed by short-covering and positioning before the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle on Feed report at 2 p.m. CT. Analysts on average expect Friday’s report to show 7.2 per cent fewer cattle placed […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down sixth straight day
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures lost ground for a sixth straight session on Thursday, pressured by cash price caution for this week, traders said. June closed down 1.525 cents per pound to 150.425 cents, and August 1.3 cents lower at 149.35 cents (all figures US$). Market-ready (cash) cattle bids in […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease while awaiting cash prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Wednesday, weighed by caution ahead of this week’s cash prices, traders said. June closed down 0.1 cent per pound, to 151.95 cents, and August 0.575 cent lower at 150.65 cents (all figures US$). Cash cattle bids in the U.S. Plains were at […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle again close mostly firm
Chicago | Reuters — For a second straight session most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts finished in modest positive territory on Tuesday pegged to bear spreading and speculative buying, traders said. The spreads consisted of traders who sold June futures ahead of its expiration on June 30 and simultaneously bought deferred months. June closed […] Read more