(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease ahead of cash prices, USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Thursday, weakened by profit-taking as investors wait for market-ready, or cash, cattle to change hands by Friday, traders said. Some traders also positioned themselves for Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle on Feed report. April live cattle ended 0.4 cent/lb. lower […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end firm, but off recent peak

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished moderately higher on Wednesday as the steep climb in wholesale beef values fueled expectations for strong cash prices by Friday, traders said. Futures hit a 4-1/2-month peak but pared gains on profit-taking and positioning ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle on […] Read more


Sea Temple of Pura Luhur, Uluwatu, south Bali, Indonesia. (CIA.gov)

Australia, Indonesia renew push for trade deal

Sydney | Reuters — Australia and Indonesia on Wednesday said they would formally resume long-stalled negotiations aimed at sealing a bilateral trade agreement between the often uneasy neighbours within 18 months. Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo and Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong said in a joint statement talks would resume in May after a […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: Surging beef prices push CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed higher on Tuesday, driven by a recent surge in wholesale beef prices that stirred optimism for cash prices later this week, traders said. April futures ended 1.425 cents/lb. higher at 140.725 (all figures US$). June closed up 1.5 cents/lb. at 130.325 after peaking at […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

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

Chicago | Reuters –– Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts gained modestly on Monday, after investors sold April and simultaneously bought deferred months in a strategy known as bear spreading, traders said. April ended 0.5 cents/lb. lower at 139.3. June closed up 0.275 cent/lb. to 128.825 and August finished 0.4 cent higher at 123.6 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle spike on cash price hopes

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures peaked at a four-month high on Friday, fueled by short-covering in anticipation of strong market-ready, or cash, cattle prices later on Friday, traders said. April ended 1.5 cents/lb. higher at 139.8, and June closed up 0.925 cent/lb. to 128.55 (all figures US$). Cash cattle bids […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash outlook drives CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished sharply higher on Thursday, driven by short-covering and recent run up in wholesale beef prices, traders said. April ended 1.525 cents/lb. higher at 138.3, and June closed up 1.325 cents/lb. to 127.625 (all figures US$). The morning’s wholesale choice beef price climbed $1.36/cwt from […] Read more