Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Thursday, as harsh cold conditions delayed slaughter operations, analysts said. Summer month futures climbed to contract highs as traders anticipate lower cattle supplies, possibly exacerbated by icy conditions. “We’re seeing those prices in April push through the roof. We now have a December that’s bitter […] Read more
U.S. livestock: February live cattle lower on slaughter delays
Winter weather caps gains in hog futures
U.S. grains: Soybeans ease on South American rainfall
Forecasts of freezing weather in U.S. Midwest support wheat; corn near even
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures dropped on Thursday, pressured by South American forecasts for more rain which could relieve parched soy crops in Argentina. Corn and wheat weakened, holding on to some of the previous day’s gains as extreme winter weather threatens winter wheat crops in the U.S. Plains and Midwest. The Chicago […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm on demand expectations
Live cattle follow retail beef prices higher
Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures lifted on Wednesday, jumping to two-week highs on expectations that demand for market-ready hogs will perk up in the coming weeks, analysts said. “There seems to be a lot of optimism in buying for after the first of the year,” said Matthew Wiegand, Risk Management Consultant at […] Read more
U.S. grains: Wheat climbs on winterkill worries
Corn, soy firm on South American dryness
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures climbed on Wednesday, as forecasts for temperatures well below freezing across the U.S. Midwest threatened winter crops heading into the holiday weekend. Corn and soybeans inched higher, supported by firmer wheat and weather conditions in South America. The most-active wheat contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs ease on weaker pork cutout
Cattle futures down with slaughter pace
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group lean hog futures fell on Tuesday, pressured by falling pork prices, analysts said. “The product markets are so weak, I think it’s keeping the nearby under pressure,” said Altin Kalo, economist at Steiner Consulting Group. Carcass cutout values dropped $1.47, to $83.46 per hundredweight (cwt), according to the U.S. […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans end higher with South America in focus
Wheat even; supplies from Black Sea region weigh against U.S. cold snap
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures added on Tuesday as traders watched South American weather, though prices could not break above resistance around US$15 a bushel. “We’re at a key level that’s stopped this market several times,” said Kristi Van Ahn-Kjeseth, chief operating officer at consulting firm Van Ahn and Co. “You get to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans ease on global stocks
Exports, South American weather underpin soy; corn steady
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans eased on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) increased its estimate of global ending stocks, though strong exports and South American weather concerns underpinned the market. Corn traded both sides of even, despite an increase in U.S. stockpiles, while wheat eased. The most-active soybean contract on the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on cash resiliency
Lean hogs down on supply outlook
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Friday, supported by resilient cash cattle prices across the U.S. Plains this week, traders said. “We had cash come right back,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading Inc. “Cash was a dollar better in the south.” Cash […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans climb to 2-1/2 month highs on strong exports
Wheat eases on disappointing exports
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybean futures climbed on Thursday, supported by strong export demand, pushing the oilseed to nearly three-month highs. Wheat traded near even after Wednesday’s rebound from a one-year low, although prices remained capped by competition from record high Russian supplies. Corn followed soybeans higher. Movements in grains were limited as traders […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm despite softer cash cattle
Hog futures down as exports disappoint
Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Thursday, supported by sluggish corn futures, while live cattle gains were muted as meatpackers offered lower cash cattle prices this week, traders said. “They’ve backed off a bit in the cash market,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more
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