(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Fund sales reverse initial live cattle gains

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Monday settled lower after profit-taking and fund liquidation beat back early-session advances following Friday’s higher cash prices, traders said. June live cattle closed 1.225 cents/lb. lower at 120.775 cents, and August ended down 1.25 cents to 116.55 cents (all figures US$). Last week packers […] Read more




(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close mixed

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished mixed on Wednesday after the morning’s higher wholesale beef prices prompted traders to buy the June contract and simultaneously sell August, traders said. June live cattle closed up 0.325 cent/lb. to 121.425 cents, and August ended 0.6 cent lower at 117.45 cents (all figures […] Read more



(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. watchdog to review cattle pricing, high-speed trading

Chicago | Reuters — A U.S. watchdog agency will launch a review of cattle pricing, including the impact of high-frequency trading on futures, after ranchers complained about a sharp price drop last year. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has accepted a request from the Senate judiciary committee to study the reasons for the decline, […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Weak cash outlook limits live cattle advances

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained on Wednesday, helped by short-covering and bargain hunting after recent market losses, traders said. But expectations of softer market-ready, or cash, cattle prices by Friday, and subsequent increased supplies, tempered market advances, traders said. “Futures is an anticipatory market. It is already anticipating cash […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price outlook extends CME live cattle losses

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped for a second straight session on Tuesday, pressured by follow-through selling and potentially softer cash prices later this week, traders said. June live cattle closed down 0.15 cent/lb. at 118 cents, and August ended 1.275 cents lower at 113.175 cents (all figures US$). Futures […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Improving margins support feeder market

Average western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with top-quality larger groups trading as much as $8-$10 higher. While current pen closeouts remain underwater, the deferred positions are somewhat brighter, which has rejuvenated buying enthusiasm. Most risk management strategies rely on cattle feeders staying in the game all year. There appears to […] Read more