CME June 2019 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures extend rally as African swine fever spreads

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose on Thursday for the third day in a row, supported by expectations that the spread of deadly African swine fever in China would boost demand from the world’s top pork buyer. The most-active June hogs contract closed up three cents, the daily trading limit. […] Read more

CME May 2019 hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs rally on hopes for increased exports to China

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures charged higher on Wednesday, with the May contract surging 5.4 per cent, on hopes for a trade deal with China that would boost exports to the world’s largest consumer of pork. “U.S.-China trade talks restart in D.C. today and most accounts have those negotiations going […] Read more


U.S. livestock: June hogs limit up on swine fever concerns

U.S. livestock: June hogs limit up on swine fever concerns

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures rallied on Tuesday, with some contracts closing up their daily trading limit, as expectations for a bump in export deals to China, traders said. The gains were ignited by the announcement on Monday by China’s agriculture ministry that African swine fever has been found […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market balancing many variables

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher while calves were $4 lower to $5 higher depending on the region. Weakness in the live and feeder cattle futures contributed to the variable price structure; however, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $268-$270 on a dressed basis, […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Hog futures mixed, cattle futures firm

U.S. livestock: Hog futures mixed, cattle futures firm

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures were mixed on Monday, with the front-month contract firming slightly after two straight days of declines while deferreds continued to ease. Traders said that fresh pork exports to China were required to ease the burdensome supplies and boost hog futures higher. “Even though we […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs tumble after Trump threatens Mexico border closure

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs tumble after Trump threatens Mexico border closure

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures ended down sharply for a second straight day on Friday after a volatile session in which traders weighed thinner near-term hog supplies against risks to pork exports with Mexico. Early-session strength stemmed from a quarterly U.S. Department of Agriculture hog supply report, released after […] Read more


CME May 2019 feeder cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands, a gauge of market volatility. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market incorporates risk premium following U.S. floods

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle sold steady to $4 higher the week ending March 23. Favourable spring weather enhanced demand for yearlings from major finishing operations; Lethbridge-area markets were notably $3-$5 higher as feedlots focused on local cattle. While feeding margins remain in negative territory, strength in the deferred live cattle […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs limit down as export sales disappoint

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs limit down as export sales disappoint

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures plunged more than three per cent on Thursday as disappointing export sales data triggered profit-taking following the market’s recent run to the highest in more than eight months, traders said. Contracts from May to December closed down the daily three-cent limit, including actively traded […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Cattle drop further on rising supply, weak cash prices

U.S. livestock: Cattle drop further on rising supply, weak cash prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures dropped for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, pressured by weaker cash cattle prices and seasonally rising supplies, traders said. Technical selling further weighed on the market, sending the spot contract to the lowest level in nearly six weeks. “We’re going to be coming […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle retreat on technical selling, fund liquidation

U.S. livestock: Live cattle retreat on technical selling, fund liquidation

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell for a third straight session on Tuesday on technical selling and fund long liquidation following the market’s recent climb to one-year highs, traders said. Open interest in live cattle futures was expected to be lower for a second straight session after hitting an all-time […] Read more