Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange contracts on Friday landed in positive territory for the first time in five sessions, helped by short-covering and bargain buying, said traders.
“We’ve had a big down week. I think this a kind of dead cat technical bounce (temporary recovery) ahead of the weekend,” Midwest Marketing Solutions analyst Brian Hoops said regarding Friday’s market gains.
Buyers were attracted to futures that were underpriced, or at a discount, compared to this week’s prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle. Funds bought the October contract after it surpassed the 200-day moving average of 107.17 cents (all figures US$).
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August ended 0.875 cent/lb. higher at 109.725 cents, and October closed up 0.8 cent higher at 107.4 cents.
This week cash cattle in the U.S. Plains brought $114-$116/cwt compared to $116-$119 last week.
Plentiful near-term supplies, and the outlook for increased numbers ahead, discouraged packers from bidding up for cattle this week, said analysts and traders.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated this week’s cattle slaughter at 641,000 head, 62,000 more than a year ago.
Market participants await the end of seasonally sluggish wholesale beef demand as grocers buy meat for Labour Day, the summer’s last official grilling holiday.
CME feeder cattle broke its five-session losing streak, led by live cattle futures’ turnaround.
August feeders closed 0.6 cent/lb. higher at 141.775 cents.
Firmer hog futures settlement
CME lean hogs gained modestly, helped by their price discounts to the exchange’s hog index for Aug. 9 at 85.5 cents, traders said.
Investors bought nearby hog contracts and simultaneously sold deep-deferred months in anticipation of a supply buildup later this year.
People are concerned about bigger supplies ahead, but a new packing plant coming online during the fourth quarter should allow the industry to handle the increased numbers, said Hoops.
August, which expires on Monday, closed up 0.2 cent/lb., to 84.65 cents. Most actively traded October ended up 0.65 cent at 68.625 cents.
— Theopolis Waters reports on livestock markets for Reuters from Chicago.
