Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures firmed on Wednesday, as technical buying sent lean hog contracts higher and cash market prices staying firm giving cattle futures a boost, market analysts said.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, as market participants appear to be betting that the dockworker strike being short-lived, market analysts and traders said.
Strength in the deferred live cattle futures has spilt over into the feeder complex. Alberta and Saskatchewan placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels which is resulting in stronger Alberta fed cattle basis levels for next spring. These are the main factors influencing the calf markets in Western Canada.
Feeder and live cattle futures turned higher on Thursday, as technical trading, a steady cash market and weakness in grain futures gave cattle contracts a boost.
Feed grain prices on the Prairies stayed relatively steady for the week ended Sept. 25 as low cattle numbers in feedlots and light test weights for grains limit price gains.
Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mostly lower on Wednesday, consolidating a day after the benchmark December contract LCZ25 set a near two-month high.
Benchmark December live cattle futures LCZ24 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed to their highest in nearly two months on Tuesday, supported by technical buying and a rosy outlook for beef demand tied to strength in Wall Street equity markets, analysts said.
Ontario buying interest was evident in Manitoba yearling markets. U.S. buyers were more interested in lighter calves and were shopping for pre-conditioned groups of sizeable volume. Certain finishing operators in Alberta were more aggressive on grass yearlings after waiting for lower prices earlier in the season.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder cattle futures jumped on Thursday as traders adjusted positions ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly cattle on feed report and saw strong U.S. export demand, according to analysts.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ticked up on Wednesday as pork cutout values remained strong and a weaker dollar made U.S. exports more competitive, traders said.