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U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit seven-week high on packer margins

CORRECTED, March 17 — Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose to a seven-week high on Thursday, boosted by recent gains in beef prices that increased profit margins for meat packers, traders and analysts said. Technical buying also was noted, with some investors buying back positions in front-month Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live […] Read more

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U.S. livestock: Cattle jump on gains in cash prices, wholesale beef

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose about one per cent on Wednesday, rebounding from declines in the previous session on the back of higher cash cattle trades in the southern U.S. Plains, traders and analysts said. Beef packers paid higher values for cattle to take advantage of big profit margins […] Read more



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Klassen: Feeder cattle jump on healthy margin structure

Western Canadian feeder cattle jumped $3-$5 on average last week, with 800-plus-lb. yearlings trading as much as $8 higher. Historically high finishing margins finally resonated with feedlot operators and a precarious attitude from recent weeks was thrown by the wayside. Order buyers were inundated with interest as bids were relatively firm across the Prairies. Adverse […] Read more


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U.S. livestock: CME live cattle gain for fourth straight session

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Monday rose for a fourth consecutive session, with strength from buy stops and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, said traders. They said profit-taking and caution ahead of this week’s cash returns pulled contracts from session highs. Monday was the final day in which […] Read more




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U.S. livestock: Live cattle sink on technical selling

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Monday on profit-taking and technical selling, although losses were limited by firm wholesale beef prices and the discount of futures to cash prices, traders said. April live cattle closed down 0.425 cent/lb. to 115.55 cents, slipping below the contract’s 50-day moving average around […] Read more


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U.S. livestock: Supply growth worries sink CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Thursday, with pressure from profit-taking partly fueled by increased supply expectations, traders said. April live cattle closed 1.425 cents/lb. lower at 116.15 cents, and June closed 1.075 cents lower at 106.725 cents (all figures US$). “I’m surprised at the (futures) weakness given bullish […] Read more

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U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end mostly firm

Chicago | Reuters –– Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed firmer on Wednesday, after investors sold April futures and simultaneously bought deferred months. Investors held off buying April futures despite strong wholesale beef values and steady-to-better cash price expectations for this week. April live cattle closed 0.35 cent/lb. lower at 117.575 cents (all […] Read more