Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose for the fourth straight trading session on Monday, as the market continued to see support from a government report last week that showed smaller-than-expected national inventory numbers, traders said. Most-active February hog futures settled the day up 0.425 cent at 83.65 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Earlier in […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures touch four-week high
Chicago cattle futures ease

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn extend rally
Dry South American weather stokes worries on crops; wheat prices move on technical trading
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago soybeans and corn extended gains on Monday to hit multi-month highs as dry and hot weather in South America stoked supply worries. Wheat rose early in the session, bolstered by hopes for greater export demand, but ended the day down on technical trading. Dealers said many market participants were still […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat slide continues in volatile week
Soybeans rise, corn up on support from crude oil prices
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures slid once again on Friday, after a volatile week in which prices plunged on investor fears about the economic impact of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, traders said. Wheat prices had steadied early in the day’s session but then started falling again on news that U.S. employment growth […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs up with export demand
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and lean hog futures rose again on Thursday, as fresh export numbers underscored strong demand for meat. Meanwhile prices on feeder cattle futures were mixed, as trades in the cash market prices jumped, traders said. Cash cattle had traded earlier in the week at $137-$138/cwt in […] Read more

U.S. grains: Grain futures regain ground as COVID jitters ease
Corn, soy firm after also hitting near three-week lows with wheat
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures turned higher Wednesday, recouping some of their steep losses from the previous session, as investor concerns that the Omicron coronavirus variant would derail the global economy began to ease. Corn and soybeans also regained ground on end-user buying, traders said, following hopes of export buyers looking for deals […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat extends slide as Omicron worries mount
Corn, soybeans also slip on virus fears
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat prices fell to a nearly three-week low on Tuesday, as concerns that the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant could slow the global economy drove investors to reduce risk exposure. The entire grains complex felt pressure early in the session, after Moderna’s CEO cautioned that COVID-19 shots were unlikely […] Read more

U.S. grains: Wheat futures ease amid supply questions after hitting highest since 2012
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago wheat futures eased on Tuesday after rising to their highest level in almost nine years, as the declining condition of the U.S. winter crop raised worries over global supply at a time of tight stocks and strong international demand. U.S. wheat prices fell later in the session on profit taking […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures slip amid export demand doubts
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures slipped on Tuesday, as uncertainty over Chinese pork demand continued and animal weights were expected to increase on cooling U.S. temperatures, analysts said. Meanwhile, Chicago’s cattle futures firmed a bit on Tuesday, amid steady slaughter rates and market expectations that cash prices should continue to […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures extend rally; hog contracts weaken
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose to their highest in more than seven weeks on Tuesday, with traders noting follow-through buying after the market rallied on Monday. Concerns about supplies and strength in the cash market underpinned cattle futures. CME December live cattle futures settled up 1.925 cents at 131.45 per […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures rise on support from fewer cattle placements
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose on Monday, as the market continued to be bolstered by a government report showing fewer cattle placements than expected, traders said. The USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report, released after the market close on Friday, showed September cattle placements at 97% year-over-year, beneath trade estimates […] Read more