(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price outlook boosts CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts climbed on Thursday, propelled by anticipation of firm cash prices by Friday amid improved wholesale beef demand, traders said. The February contract, which will expire on Monday, closed up 0.9 cent/lb. to 137.875 cents (all figures US$). April ended 1.2 cents higher at 137.35 cents. […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Klassen: Fed cattle bounce stabilizes feeders

Alberta fed cattle prices jumped to three-month highs, reaching $174 over the past week, setting a positive tone for feeders to start off the New Year. Retailers appear to be featuring beef at discounted prices, alleviating the bloated beef pipeline. Wholesale prices also ratcheted higher, reflecting the improving demand. While pen closeouts remain in negative […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price spike drives CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished well into positive territory on Wednesday, led by the steep climb in prices for cash cattle, traders said. Spot December, which will expire on Thursday, closed 2.8 cents/lb. higher at 133 cents, and February ended 1.2 cents higher at 136.7 (all figures US$). “Today […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures slump by 3-cents price limit

Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled down by their 3-cents per lb daily price limit on Wednesday, in anticipation of weaker prices for market-ready, or cash cattle, traders said. Spot December and February finished at 137.225 and 139.650 cents per lb, respectively. Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded to 4.5 cents on […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Drop in beef prices weighs on CME live cattle futures

Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, weakened by lower wholesale beef prices that could pressure cash values later this week, traders said. Spot December closed 1.450 cents per lb lower at 140.225 cents, and February 1.050 cents lower at 142.650 cents. Tuesday morning’s wholesale choice beef price sagged 61 cents […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures end mostly firm; hogs weaker

Chicago/Reuters – Most live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange gained modestly on Monday, with December pulled down by its premium to last week’s prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle, traders said. They added that funds sold the CME live cattle and lean hog December contracts, and simultaneously bought deferred trading months, in advance of […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures slide on final trading session

Chicago / Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle ended lower on Friday, the last trading session of the month, with pressure from uneasiness about remaining prices for remaining market-ready, or cash, cattle by late Friday evening, traders said. Spot October, which expired at noon CDT (1700 GMT), settled 0.875 cents per cwt lower at 139.250 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Steep drop in pork belly prices sink CME lean hog futures

Chicago / Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended lower on Thursday, pressured by downward-trending cash and wholesale pork prices, traders said. December closed down 1.525 cents per lb to 59.875 cents, and February was 1.500 cents lower at 63.000. Cash hog prices in the Iowa/Minnesota hog market on Thursday afternoon sagged $1.25 […] Read more


Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures rally by 3-cents/lb price limit

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled up by their 3-cents per lb daily price limit on Wednesday, boosted by short-covering in response to improved wholesale beef demand and Tuesday’s better-than-expected preliminary cash prices, traders said. Spot October and December ended at 139.675 and 143.600 cents per lb. Live cattle’s trading limit […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end mixed, hogs weaker

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished mixed on Wednesday stirred by profit-taking and positioning before the sale of cash cattle as early as Thursday, traders said. Spot October closed 0.275 cent/lb. lower at 139.975, and December down 0.025 cent to 143.15 (all figures US$). February and April closed up 0.275 […] Read more