Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed the daily exchange-imposed limit on Thursday on increasing expectations for Chinese buying as the world’s two largest economies prepared for talks aimed at breaking the logjam in their trade war. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) will temporarily expand the trading limit to 4.5 cents on Friday […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs limit up on expectations for Chinese buying
U.S. grains: Fresh sales to China fuel soy optimism
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures jumped to a one-month high on Thursday on news of fresh export sales to China and signs of a possible easing of the U.S. trade dispute with the world’s biggest buyer of the oilseed. Corn and wheat futures also rose, following soybeans. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle extend recovery from nine-year low
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures shot higher on Wednesday on short covering and technical buying as the market extended a rebound from a nine-year low this week. CME October live cattle futures ended up 2.35 cents at 98.5 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The market has climbed since October live cattle […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn ease on crop-boosting weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures retreated on Wednesday ahead of an eagerly awaited U.S. government crop report, pressured by forecasts for favourable Midwest crop weather and disappointment that China did not include the oilseed on a list of U.S. imports exempted from tariffs. Corn also weakened as late-planted U.S. crops were seen benefiting […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs advance on China trade hopes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures jumped on Tuesday as expectations rose for China to increase pork imports from the United States, traders said. China, the world’s top pork consumer, is expected to buy more U.S. agricultural products in hopes of a better trade deal with Washington, the South China Morning […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle set nine-year low on weak cash prices, big supply
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Front-month live cattle futures fell to a nine-year low on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Monday under pressure from weak cash prices and large supplies. Cash cattle are expected to trade around $98/cwt this week in Texas and Kansas, down from $100 last week and $103 two weeks ago, according to […] Read more
Canada takes first step at WTO to challenge China’s canola ban
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada, locked in a major dispute with Beijing, is taking the first formal step at the World Trade Organization to challenge China’s decision to block Canadian canola exports, Trade Minister Jim Carr said Friday. China, angry at Canada’s detention of a top Huawei Technologies executive last year on a U.S. arrest […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans sag on demand worries
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell more than one per cent on Thursday on concerns about burdensome supplies and weak export demand as the U.S. trade war with China continues, analysts said. Wheat futures rose on short-covering and worries about drought in Australia, and corn edged higher, despite bearish weekly U.S. ethanol statistics. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle fall as cash cattle, beef prices sag
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell to contract lows on Thursday as cash cattle prices declined from last week and wholesale beef prices extended their slide, traders said. Cash cattle traded at $100/cwt in Texas and Kansas, traders said, down from $103 last week (all figures US$). “Boxed beef is […] Read more
Industry groups hail appointment of new China envoy
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canada has appointed veteran business consultant Dominic Barton as ambassador to China, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, as the government grapples with a major diplomatic and trade dispute between the nations. Barton, 56, a Ugandan-born Canadian who stepped down as global managing partner of consulting firm McKinsey and Co. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
