Chicago wheat, corn and soybean futures chopped up and down but ended lower on Friday as traders weighed a bounce in demand fuelled by low prices against expectations of ample supply and upcoming U.S. government crop forecasts.
Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures rebounded on Thursday after hitting a five-year low the previous day, and corn recovered from earlier contract lows as technical support and signs of new export demand countered the pressure of ample supplies, traders said.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures hit contract highs for the second day in a row on Thursday as strong cash cattle prices and resilient consumer demand continued to fuel a rally, analysts said.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures hit contract highs on Wednesday as strong consumer demand for beef and another spike in wholesale boxed beef prices supported an ongoing futures rally.
Chicago wheat futures slipped to a five-year low on Wednesday, while corn set contract lows for the third session in a row as ample global supply hung over grain markets.
Chicago wheat futures plunged to contract lows on Tuesday to approach their lowest point since 2020 as sinking corn futures and seasonal supply pressure from Northern Hemisphere harvests weighed on the market, traders said.
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures finished flat on Friday but notched a second consecutive weekly decline as ample global supplies, favorable U.S. weather and weak Chinese demand hung over the market.