(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. livestock: Bargain hunters reverse CME hog futures losses

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs rallied on Friday, with some contracts up the three-cents-per-pound price limit, fueled by bargain hunting following futures’ plunge to a six-year low in the previous session, traders said. February closed 0.6 cent/lb. higher at 63.875 cents, while April and May ended three cents higher at 69.275


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures hit six-year low as supply woes persist

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs sagged to a six-year low Thursday, pressured by continued worries over plentiful supplies that sank futures to a five-year bottom on Wednesday, traders said. February closed 1.825 cents per pound lower at 63.275 cents, and set a new contract low of 62.85 cents in electronic trading

(CMEGroup.com)

CME Group to close most open-outcry futures trading pits

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group will shutter most of its open-outcry futures pits by July 2, the world’s largest futures market operator said Wednesday, bringing down the curtain on a once-raucous tradition that has been in decline since the rise of computerized trading. The decision ousts traders of products ranging from grain and livestock


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Supply worries drop lean hogs to five-year low

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hogs fell to their lowest level in five years Wednesday as abundant supplies of heavyweight hogs pressured cash prices and hurt wholesale pork demand, traders said. “We’re simply supply-bearish,” said U.S. Commodities analyst Don Roose. Market-ready (cash) hogs in the Midwest sold steady to $1 lower

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rebound with beef prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled higher after Tuesday’s choppy session, supported by the wholesale beef price upswing that trumped initial selling, traders said. February closed 0.55 cent per pound higher at 153.75 cents, and April up 0.975 cent, to 150.575 cents (all figures US$). Tuesday morning’s choice wholesale beef



(USDA.gov via Flickr)

Aggressive herd expansion reverses shrinking U.S. cattle supply

Chicago | Reuters — Affordable feed and record-high spikes in cattle prices in 2014 encouraged U.S. ranchers to increase their herds at a faster pace than previously expected during the past year, analysts said in response to a government yearly cattle report on Friday. Expansion efforts by producers helped turnaround the seven-year decline in the


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle post gains after wild ride

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Friday after an up-and-down session, ultimately supported by short-covering and futures’ discounts to cash prices, traders said. February closed 1.325 cents per pound higher at 154.85 cents, and April up 1.775 cents, to 152.275 cents (all figures US$). This week, packers paid

(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures slump, but off session lows

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Thursday, pressured by profit taking before the last trading day of the month on Friday, traders said. Earlier, February and April triggered sell stops and fund liquidation after falling below the 10-day moving average of 152.95 cents and 151.05 cents, respectively (all