Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures notched gains for a fifth consecutive session on Thursday, fuelled by the recent rise in wholesale beef prices in anticipation of tight near-term supplies, traders said. CME livestock futures closed at noon CT in observance of the Christmas holiday. Spot December settled 2.5 cents/lb. higher […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Strong beef prices lift CME live cattle again
Klassen: Feeder cattle market grinds lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices ended the year on a soft tone, trading $5-$10 below week-ago levels; fleshier unweaned calves were down $10 to $15 because adverse weather plagued much of the Prairie region. Cattle buyers were busy on the phone, but receiving no orders. Feedlots appear to be content with their current inventory levels […] Read more
U.S. Nov. feedlot cattle placements slump to record low
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Cattle movement into U.S. feedlots in November fell 11 per cent from a year ago to their lowest level since the government began compiling the data in 1996, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed on Friday. Analysts attributed last month’s much smaller-than-expected placements to deteriorating margins that prompted feedyards to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sink to three-year bottom
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday slid to their lowest level in three years, pressured by more losses price-wise for unsold cash cattle, traders said. Spot December ended down 2.825 cents/lb. to 117.15 cents, and made a new contract low of 116.975 (all figures US$). February finished 2.45 cents […] Read more
Canada not yet pulling trade trigger on COOL
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada remains “cautiously optimistic” that the U.S. government will repeal its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law before the Canadian and Mexican governments impose retaliatory tariffs. Federal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, speaking Wednesday from Nairobi on a conference call with reporters, said she was “not going to go into hypotheticals” about Canada’s next move if an omnibus […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cash price caution tempers CME live cattle rally
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished moderately higher on Tuesday, after uneasiness about cash prices later this week pulled contracts from initial short-covering highs, traders said. Spot December ended up 0.775 cent/lb. to 120.3 cents, and February 1.125 cents higher at 125.525. Those who had been short futures covered those […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market falls sharply
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $12-$15 on average, with fleshier unweaned calves trading down $20-$25. Major feedlot operators reined in buying interest across the Prairies as fed cattle and wholesale beef prices remain under pressure. Feeding margins continue to deteriorate beyond pain thresholds and the backlog of market-ready feedlot supplies […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat with beef quotes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures suffered sizable losses on Monday, with slumping wholesale beef values increasing the possibly of further cash price weakness ahead, traders said. Spot December ended down 1.925 cents/lb., to 119.525 cents, and February 1.85 cents lower at 124.4 (all figures US$). The Monday morning wholesale choice […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Bearish fundamental outlook pressures CME live cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures posted modest losses on Friday in anticipation of soft cash and wholesale beef values in the weeks ahead, traders said. Spot December ended down 0.1 cent/lb. to 121.45 cents, and February 0.275 cent lower at 126.25 (all figures US$). “Until we can get a prolonged […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering boosts CME live, feeder cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed higher on Thursday, driven by short-covering that gradually gave way to this week’s lower cash prices and lacklustre wholesale beef demand, traders said. Spot December closed 1.7 cents/lb. higher at 121.55 cents, and February up 2.375 cents, to 126.525 (all figures US$). “It’s just […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
