Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures rose more than two per cent on Friday and set a multi-year high after China booked its biggest purchase of U.S. corn to date, fueling expectations of tightening global supplies. Wheat futures also rose about two per cent, chasing corn higher, and soybeans firmed as well. Chicago Board […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn sets 7-1/2-year high on China sales
Chicago wheat also up, soybeans firm

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end narrowly mixed
Hogs also mixed, feeder cattle mostly lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed narrowly mixed on Thursday, with the benchmark April contract inching higher as strong wholesale beef prices continued to support the market, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle settled up 0.075 cent at 122.7 cents/lb. (all figures US$). But front-month February futures ended lower, down […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn ends flat after vaulting to 7-1/2 year high
Corn sales to China spurred climb
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures settled nearly flat on Thursday after a volatile session in which the benchmark contract hit its highest level in 7-1/2 years, buoyed by U.S. corn sales to China, only to retreat on profit-taking, traders said. Soybean and wheat futures closed lower in technical trade, despite concerns about tightening […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs end lower on profit-taking
March feeder cattle also lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Wednesday in a light profit-taking setback following a four-session climb, and on spillover weakness from declines in Wall Street equity markets, traders said. However, continued strength in wholesale beef prices and expectations of higher cash cattle prices this week underpinned the market. Chicago Mercantile Exchange […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat down on profit-taking
Corn pares gains off seven-year high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures fell about one per cent on Wednesday on profit-taking as the dollar firmed and Wall Street equity markets sagged, analysts said. But worries about tightening global inventories underpinned the grains, keeping wheat, corn and soybean futures near multi-year highs set this month. Chicago Board of Trade March wheat […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn soars four per cent on fresh sales to China
Chicago soy, wheat also climb
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures surged four per cent on Tuesday as news of fresh export sales to China re-ignited concerns about tightening U.S. and global grain supplies, analysts said. Soybeans followed corn higher, with worries about a slow start to the Brazilian soy harvest lending support. Wheat firmed on supply concerns and […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Rising beef prices buoy CME live cattle futures
Colder spell in U.S. Midwest, Plains lifts hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Tuesday for a fourth straight session, with deferred months setting life-of-contract highs as robust demand for beef lifted packer profit margins and bolstered demand for market-ready cattle, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled up 0.15 cent at 123.1 cents/lb., while June […] Read more

U.S. grains: Corn, soy up on bargain-buying after Friday’s slump
Chicago wheat also climbs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures rallied on Monday as commercial and technical buyers stepped in to take advantage of Friday’s steep declines, analysts said. Wheat futures firmed on bargain-buying after a four-session slide and improving export prospects. Chicago Board of Trade March corn settled up 11 cents at $5.11-1/2 per bushel, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end firm, led by rising beef prices
Lean hog futures edge higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Monday as support from strong wholesale beef prices and expectations of firm cash cattle prices overshadowed pressure from bearish data in a monthly cattle report released late Friday, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled up 0.425 cent at 122.95 cents/lb. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures drift lower on technical selling
Back months in hogs, cattle draw speculators' interest
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed lower on Friday on light technical selling, with the spot February contract pressured as speculators rolled long positions into forward months, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled down 0.5 cent at 114.475 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Friday was the first day of […] Read more