U.S. livestock: Strong cash prices lift CME hogs

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs on Wednesday shrugged off some of Tuesday's declines, helped by short-covering and rising prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, hogs, said traders. December futures led advances after investors bought that contract and simultaneously sold deferred months in a trading strategy known as bull spreads. Fund buying developed[...]

U.S. livestock: Live cattle limit up on strong cash prices

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle settled up their three cent per pound daily price limit on Thursday, fueled by short-covering following stronger-than-expected cash prices, said traders. Fund buying and futures' discounts to this week's cash returns enhanced market gains, they said. June and August closed limit up at 127.425 and 124.7[...]


U.S. beef packer margins soar as cattle prices fall

Chicago | Reuters -- U.S. beef packers including Tyson Foods and Cargill are racking up historically high margins, thanks to slumping cattle prices amid a supply glut and as Americans turn to beef for their backyard summer barbecues. Supermarkets are stocking up on steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers for the May 26 U.S. Memorial Day[...]

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat on softer cash price outlook

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Monday on expectations for lower prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle this week amid ample supplies, traders said. The decline triggered pre-determined sell orders, and funds sold the October contract after it slipped beneath its 200-day moving average of 107.183 cents (all figures[...]


U.S. livestock: Lower cash, pork prices send CME hog futures lower

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs closed lower for a third straight day on Thursday, posting new lows for the contract, following downward-trending prices for market-ready, or cash hogs and wholesale pork values, traders said. Plentiful hog supplies and some plants shutting down temporarily to perform routine maintenance, which is typical this time[...]

U.S. livestock: Strong cash prices boost CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday reached their highest level in two months, driven by fund buying and better-than-expected cash prices, said traders. December live cattle closed up 2.725 cents/lb. to 108.2 cents, and February ended 1.975 cents higher at 108.5 cents (all figures US$). On Wednesday packers paid[...]


U.S. livestock: Strong cash prices push CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended higher for a third day in a row on Friday, led by short-covering in response to better-than-expected prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle, said traders. They said fund buying contributed to CME live cattle gains after some contracts broke through technical resistance levels. October[...]

U.S. livestock: CME hogs at three-month low on cash, pork prices

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs drifted to a three-month bottom on Monday, in response to lower cash and wholesale pork prices, said traders. Sell stops and deferred-month future's premiums to CME's hog index for Dec. 7 at 65.48 cents further weighed on contracts. December hogs, which will expire on Dec. 14,[...]


U.S. livestock: Weather, cash prices rally CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures turned higher on Monday, spurred by last Friday's strong cash prices and the start this week of another round of wintry weather in parts of the northern U.S. Plains, traders said. February live cattle finished 1.65 cents/lb. at 123.55 cents (all figures US$). April ended[...]

U.S. livestock: Lower cash, pork prices pull down CME hogs

Chicago | Reuters -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs finished lower on Wednesday, pressured by weaker cash and wholesale pork prices, said traders. Fund liquidation further weighed on the market, they said. December hogs, which will expire on Dec. 14, ended down 0.45 cent/lb. at 63.825 cents (all figures US$). Most actively-traded February closed 1.55[...]