(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Speculative buying rallies CME lean hogs

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts closed higher on Tuesday, strengthened by short-covering and speculative buying in anticipation of tighter seasonal supplies, traders said. Spot February finished 2.2 cents/lb. higher at 61.9 cents, and April ended 1.825 cents higher at 67.3 cents (all figures US$). “Packer margins are strong and I […] Read more




(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end lower after choppy session

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts settled lower following Friday’s volatile session, stirred by funds that sold February and bought deferred contracts in accordance with the Standard + Poor’s Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (S+PGSCI), said traders. Friday was the first of five days of the S+PGSCI “roll” process. Simultaneously, some index […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle tumble limit down

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended Thursday’s session down by their three cents/lb. daily price limit, rattled by lower preliminary cash prices and deteriorating U.S. stock futures amid China’s economic woes, traders said. February live cattle and April ended at 133.525 cents and 134.3 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Live […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Slumping stock market pressures CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts posted modest losses on Wednesday amid investor jitters over fallen U.S. stock futures and uncertainty about cash price direction, traders said. Funds heavily invested in equities typically have a wide range of commodities in their portfolios, including CME livestock. February live cattle closed 0.25 cent/lb. […] Read more


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Hogs jump on expectations of tighter supplies

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures surged as much as 2.8 percent on Tuesday, in a bull-spreading rally on expectations of seasonally tighter supplies and ideas of stronger retail demand for pork, traders and analysts said. Investors were buying the Chicago Mercantile Exchange February lean hogs contract and selling deferred contracts such as […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle rise on cash gains, wintry weather

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures rose on Monday, reversing earlier declines and extending steep gains of recent days as wintry weather hampered animal weight gains and feed prices tumbled, traders and analysts said. Live cattle futures steadied after falling sharply early in the session at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as big declines […] Read more


(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Klassen: Fed cattle bounce stabilizes feeders

Alberta fed cattle prices jumped to three-month highs, reaching $174 over the past week, setting a positive tone for feeders to start off the New Year. Retailers appear to be featuring beef at discounted prices, alleviating the bloated beef pipeline. Wholesale prices also ratcheted higher, reflecting the improving demand. While pen closeouts remain in negative […] Read more