Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Thursday, pressured by profit-taking as early-week cash price optimism waned, traders said. April closed 0.85 cent/lb. lower at 135.45 cents, and June ended down 0.3 cent, to 125.625 (all figures US$). Packers are dug in with market-ready, or cash, cattle bids in […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cash price unease weakens CME live cattle
Canadian wheat rejected in Egypt re-exported to Europe
Abu Dhabi | Reuters — A shipment of Canadian wheat rejected in Egypt over concerns it contained traces of ergot has been re-exported to Europe after Egypt’s agricultural quarantine rejected a petition from the supplier, trade sources said Thursday. Egypt’s quarantine authority has rejected a series of wheat shipments over traces of the common grain […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat hits six-session high, weather sparks short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures climbed to their highest in six trading sessions on Thursday as expanding dryness in the southern Plains hard wheat belt triggered a round of short-covering, traders and analysts said. Traders were also concerned about a threat of flooding in the Mississippi River Delta region, which grows soft red […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking drops CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Wednesday, after investors pocketed profits while waiting for market-ready, or cash, cattle to change hands possibly before Friday, traders said. April closed 0.8 cent/lb. lower at 136.3 cents, and June ended 0.425 cent lower at 125.925 (all figures US$). Cash bids in […] Read more

Mild winter, poor snow cover watched in Alberta, Saskatchewan
CNS Canada –– A milder than normal winter, with a lack of significant snow cover across much of Alberta and Saskatchewan, may be raising concerns in parts of the Prairies — but there is still plenty of time before spring seeding will begin. “There’s not much moisture there,” said Harry Brook, crop specialist with Alberta’s […] Read more

CP mulls litigation over opposition to Norfolk Southern deal
Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) said Wednesday it is looking at all legal options in response to what it described as concerted efforts by certain U.S. railroads to block its proposed merger with Norfolk Southern. “It is unfortunate that CP must consider the use of litigation to ensure a level playing field and protect […] Read more

Paterson taps brakes on China canola sales
Winnipeg | Reuters — Crop handler Paterson Grain will take a more cautious approach to selling canola to Chinese buyers for the near term, after China said it would toughen its standard on canola shipments from Canada, the CEO of parent Paterson GlobalFoods said. China’s quarantine authority, AQSIQ, told Ottawa last week it would allow […] Read more

ICE weekly outlook: Canola drops amid widespread pressure
CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts suffered significant losses during a volatile week ended Wednesday. While futures managed to recover off their fresh contract lows hit during the week, the overall technical bias remained pointed lower. Weakness in the U.S. soy complex and vegetable oil market were joined by strength in the Canadian […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy in harvest-induced trading range
CNS Canada –– Corn and soybeans at the Chicago Board of Trade are both sitting at the low end of their trading ranges, with South America’s harvest keeping bullish features at a minimum. Corn — The May corn contract will probably establish new contract lows over the course of the week, said Terry Reilly, senior […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat rallies after multiyear lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures rallied to close higher on Wednesday as traders covered short positions following the market’s drop to its lowest level in nearly six years. Soybean futures also advanced on bargain buying, halting a six-session slide, while corn settled fractionally higher. At the CBOT, May wheat finished […] Read more