Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean and corn futures ticked higher on Friday as traders adjusted positions ahead of the year-end holidays. Lingering uncertainty over demand prospects created by a U.S.-China trade deal hung over the markets. Crop prices increased after Washington and Beijing last week struck a ‘Phase One’ trade deal that includes a […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn rise as traders adjust positions
U.S. livestock: Cattle placements top estimates
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle producers placed more animals than expected into feedlots last month, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed on Friday, raising expectations for big supplies next summer. The increase in placements will likely pressure futures prices on Monday, brokers said. Meat producers and buyers are keeping a close watch on herd […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures ease on rains in South American forecasts
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. soybean futures edged lower on Thursday, retreating from a five-week high touched earlier this week as traders expected rains to benefit rival suppliers in South America. Favourable crop weather could boost production in Argentina and Brazil, increasing global supplies and competition for export sales to buyers like China. Rains will ease dry […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on pork shipments to China
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures strengthened on Thursday as the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported shipments of U.S. pork to China last week reached their highest in at least 10 months. Traders and analysts are focusing on exports to China because it is the world’s top pork consumer and has lost about half […] Read more
U.S. grains: Prices slip after rallying on trade deal
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. grain and soybean futures eased on Wednesday as the markets paused after rallying this week on demand hopes fuelled by a U.S.-China trade agreement. The long-awaited agreement included a Chinese commitment to expand purchases of U.S. farm products. However, traders are cautious about projections from Washington that deals will reach […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat from contract highs
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures ended mostly lower on Wednesday as the market retreated from contract highs reached this week. Feeder cattle and hog futures were also mostly weaker. Analysts predict meat packers such as Tyson Foods and JBS USA will buy fewer cattle over the next two weeks because Christmas and […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Firmer cash prices support CME hog futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose on Tuesday with support from stronger cash prices, while live cattle futures eased in a setback from recent advances. Gains in hog futures and cash prices reflect solid domestic demand for pork and signal that pig supplies are expected to tighten heading into the new year, said […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybean futures set two-week high
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose for a fifth straight session to their highest in two weeks as Chinese importers on Monday bought at least five bulk cargo shipments of the oilseed from the United States, or about 300,000 tonnes, traders said. A rally to four-week highs in soyoil futures helped support the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Plentiful supply pressures CME hogs
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures fell on Monday in a turnaround from a two-week high last week, as large inventories pressured prices. Meat packers slaughtered an estimated 496,000 pigs, up from 475,000 a year ago, putting extra pork on the market. U.S. hog supplies are large after farmers expanded their herds to supply […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy futures rise as China offers tariff waivers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures rose for a fourth consecutive session on Friday as China said it would waive import tariffs for some U.S. farm products, renewing optimism for a possible trade agreement between Washington and Beijing. Tariff waivers will be based on applications by individual companies for U.S. soybean and pork imports, […] Read more