Chicago cattle futures returned to gains on Thursday after two days of losses, while all but the most distant hog contracts edged down.
Most active August live cattle futures settled at 210.075 cents a pound, up 1.900 cents. October live cattle closed at 208.150 cents per pound, up 2.075 cents.
Most active August feeder cattle contracts closed at 299.925 cents per pound, up 4.300 cents. September feeders settled at 298.850 cents a pound, up 4.375 cents.
Fresh highs for August feeders are probably on the horizon, wrote analyst Jefferson Fosse with Walsh Trading.
“Of course at some point the trend will change, but I don’t see any indication of that yet,” said Fosse.
Choice boxed beef ended the day at $366.09 per cwt, up $0.67. The USDA’s afternoon report showed select boxed beef at $353.64 per cwt, up $1.90.
Most active July lean hog futures settled at 102.975 cents a pound, a loss of 0.325 cents. August lean hogs lost 0.125 cents to close at 103.400 cents per pound.
Pork carcass cutout value gained $2.22 to end the day at $104.62 per cwt the USDA reported.
—Prices reported in U.S. dollars
