Cattle Current Market Update with Wes Ishmael

Cattle futures extended gains from the previous session on Monday with a feeling of confidence, despite more negative rhetoric from the White House, aimed at beef packers this time (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $7.02 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were limit-up $9.250, except for $2.80 higher in [...]

Cattle futures firmed Friday. Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.74 higher. However, they were an average $6.97 lower week to week on Friday. That's about an average $23.09 lower over the past three weeks. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.36 higher on Friday but an average of $13.38 lower week [...]

Cattle futures moved lower again on Thursday with follow-through pressure and lower negotiated cash fed cattle prices for the week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 74¢ lower, except for $1.85 higher in the back contract. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.96 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade [...]

Cattle futures extended losses Wednesday, trading mostly limit-down, as traders hunt for a bottom to the emotionally driven break, tied to President Trumps goal of lowering domestic retail beef prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $7.20 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $9.19 lower. Negotiated cash fed [...]

Queasiness about political intent for the cattle markets and wonderments about resumption of cattle imports from Mexico pressured Cattle futures on Tuesday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $4.25 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $8.09 lower. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in [...]

Fundamentals appeared to return to Cattle futures trade Monday as prices gained back some of the recent losses. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.34 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.36 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all cattle feeding regions [...]

Heightened volatility and uncertainty tied to lingering wonderments about President Trump's stated goal to reduce beef prices capped recent gains in Cattle futures on Friday. Month-end position squaring was likely also at play. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.99 lower, except for $1.32 higher in expiring spot Oct. Week to week on [...]

Cattle futures mostly crawled higher Thursday as traders await further direction from this week's negotiated cash fed cattle trade. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 70¢ higher (from 2¢ higher to $4.10 higher in waning spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 73¢ higher, except for an average [...]

Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $5.33 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $8.57 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. So far this week, FOB live prices are [...]

Live Cattle futures firmed and mostly gained Tuesday, while Feeder Cattle futures continued to unwind with long position liquidation. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 71¢ higher, except for an average of 54¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $9.61 lower. Negotiated cash [...]

Cattle futures continued to plunge lower Monday, fueled by uncertainty created by the federal government's attempts to lower domestic consumer beef prices (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $9.14 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $13.22 lower, limit down, except for $9.025 lower in spot Oct. [...]

Cattle futures, continued to firm Tuesday and gain back from last Friday's sharp losses. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.59 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 87¢ higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light to moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions [...]

Cattle futures melted down Friday on President Trump's widely reported and vague comments that the White House plans to lower beef prices. Algorithmic trading likely drove the selloff deeper and faster than would have otherwise been the case. Fundamentally speaking and guided by history, government intervention in cattle and beef markets has never been [...]

Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from limited on moderate demand in the North to inactive on light demand in the Southern Plains through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early FOB live sales in Nebraska at $240/cwt. and in the western Corn Belt [...]

Cattle futures paused from the recent surge on Wednesday. Live Cattle futures closed narrowly mixed, from an average of 13¢ lower in four contracts to an average of 19¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed from an average of 34¢ lower, except for an average of 8¢ higher in three contracts. Cattle futures were mainly [...]

Cattle futures rolled higher Tuesday, supported by cash. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $1.76 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $4.31 higher. They're taking a breather so far on Wednesday. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand in all regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to [...]

Cattle futures continued to churn higher Monday. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.12 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.18 higher, except for 12¢ lower in spot Oct. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand in all regions through Monday afternoon, according [...]

Cattle futures started Friday's session lower with traders apparently taking some profits from the week's bullish gains. Then cash fed cattle trade erupted with significantly higher prices and futures were off to the races again. Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.45 higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.96 higher. Negotiated [...]

Cattle futures continued to climb Thursday supported by fundamental strength and increasing odds of steady to higher cash fed cattle trade this week. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.75 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.19 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to [...]

Traders pushed Cattle futures higher Wednesday, supported by increasing odds that wholesale beef values are near their seasonal bottom and eyes apparently fixed on tightening supplies. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.82 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.40 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive [...]

Cattle futures were higher again Tuesday, helped along by the previous day's announcement of another New World screwworm detection in northern Mexico and a day of higher wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.31 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.71 higher. Negotiated cash fed [...]

Cattle futures bounced higher Monday, likely due in part to the U.S. standing pat on Brazilian beef import tariffs, at least for now. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.33 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.73 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to [...]

Cattle futures closed higher Friday but continued the back and forth sideways path. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 85¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.64 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of 90¢ higher (20¢ higher toward the front to $1.62 higher near [...]

Cattle futures stepped lower Thursday, bowing to softer cash fed cattle prices and the continued seasonal decline in wholesale beef values. Some also suggested conditional FDA approval of an injectable from Zoetis for the prevention and control of New World screwworm might have been part of the pressure, speculating it might mean a quicker [...]

Cattle futures were firm in the deferred contracts Wednesday but weak up front with pressure from lower cash fed cattle prices. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 60¢ higher, except for an average of 38¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of [...]

Cattle futures, especially Feeder Cattle bounced higher Tuesday, supported by likely month-end and quarter-end position squaring and the quarterly Grain Stocks report (see below). Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $1.38 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.08 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light [...]

Cattle futures wandered on both sides of steady on Monday, favoring a slightly softer tone. Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of 35¢ lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 78¢ lower across a wide range. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light to moderate demand in [...]

Cattle futures mostly firmed on Friday. Live Cattle futures closed an average of 92¢ higher, except for 25¢ lower and unchanged in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.68 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed mixed, from an average of $1.12 lower in the front [...]

Cattle futures stepped lower Thursday as wholesale beef prices continue to fall and with early weekly cash fed cattle trade weaker. Toward the close, Live cattle futures an average of $2.60 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.49 lower, except for 2¢ higher in spot Sep. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was light [...]

Cattle futures softened Wednesday and consolidated with some likely profit taking and waiting for weekly cash fed cattle direction. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.72 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.27 lower, except for 55¢ higher in spot Sep. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive [...]

Cattle futures closed mainly higher Tuesday with follow-through support from the previous day's New World screwworm news. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were mixed from an average of 98¢ lower in the front four contracts to an average of $1.08 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.94 higher. Negotiated cash fed [...]

Cattle futures stormed higher Monday, fueled by news that New World screwworm was confirmed just about 70 miles south of the U.S. border (see below) and traders thinking it will prevent Mexican cattle imports for even longer. Last week's Cattle on Feed report may have provided some added lift. Toward the close, Live cattle [...]

Cattle futures closed higher for a consecutive second session, and for the week, helped along by stronger outside markets and ongoing bullish fundamentals. Live cattle futures were an average of $1.18 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.44 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $3.92 [...]

Cattle futures regained some footing Thursday with some likely positioning ahead of Friday's monthly Cattle on Feed report. Depending on who you follow, August placements are estimated to be nearly 9% less year over year with August marketing down about 13% and the Sept. 1 cattle on feed inventory down nearly 1%. Toward the [...]

Cattle futures continued lower Wednesday, hampered by wariness ahead of the Fed's interest rate announcement and swift declines in wholesale beef prices. Negotiated cash fed trade cattle was limited on moderate demand in the Texas Panhandle through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early [...]

Cattle futures gave back some of the previous session's gains with declining wholesale beef prices and the outlook for perhaps lower cash fed cattle trade again this week. Pressure may have also included USDA confirmation the previous day of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a Nebraska dairy cattle herd. Toward the close, [...]

Cattle futures climbed back Monday as funds appeared to retrench following last week's losses. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $4.42 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $6.81 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light to moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through [...]

Cattle futures regained some ground Thursday. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.17 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.03 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. So far this week, FOB live [...]

Live Cattle futures firmed and clawed higher Wednesday, while all but the front months drifted lower in Feeder Cattle. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.21 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $1.40 lower, except for an average of $1.06 higher in the front two contracts.   Negotiated [...]

Cattle futures plunged Tuesday with technical correction, exaggerated by apparent fund selling and wariness over seasonal pressure on cash fed cattle prices and wholesale beef values. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $5.93 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were limit down $9.25, except for $7.80 lower in the back contract.   [...]

Cattle futures were mostly higher Monday but hesitantly. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of 58¢ higher, except for 22¢ lower in spot Oct. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 98¢ higher, except for 65¢ lower in away Sep.   Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand [...]

Cattle futures were softer again Friday with pressure from declining wholesale beef values and lower outside markets. Live cattle futures closed an average of $1.26 lower. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $2.34 lower, except for unchanged in spot Sep. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $3.60 [...]

Cattle futures were mixed Tuesday after a strong start with likely pressure from more bearish outside markets. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 10¢ lower in six contracts to an average of 14¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of 85¢ lower in four [...]

Cattle futures regained the previous session's losses and more on Friday as traders retrenched for the beginning of a new month. Live cattle futures were an average of $2.70 higher and Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $3.89 higher. Week to week on Friday, Live Cattle futures closed an average of $2.61 higher [...]

Cattle futures closed lower Thursday with likely profit taking ahead of the long weekend. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.03 lower. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.87 lower, except for 55¢ higher in expiring Aug. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Kansas [...]

Cattle futures continued to push higher Wednesday. As the week wears on there is likely to be some profit taking ahead of the long weekend. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of 70¢ higher, except for 17¢ lower in waning spot Aug. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 96¢ higher. [...]

Cattle futures rebounded and gained on bullish fundamentals Tuesday, following the previous session's volatility tied to news of New World screwworm confirmed in a U.S. resident, who was infected while traveling in South America. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $1.57 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.81 [...]

Cattle futures gapped lower on the open Monday, pressured by Friday's Cattle on Feed report and Headlines about a human case of New World screwworm being confirmed in the U.S. (see below). However, Cattle futures recovered much of the lost ground by the end of the session. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were [...]

Cattle futures surged higher Friday, supported by strong fundamentals and perhaps receiving a boost from stronger outside markets. Live cattle futures were an average of $1.73 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.18 higher. Week to week on Friday, Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $16.86 higher and Live Cattle were [...]

Cattle futures traded both sides of steady through Thursday but were mainly higher toward the close. Live cattle futures were an average of 58¢ higher, except for unchanged and 7¢ lower in the front two contracts. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 87¢ higher. Keep in mind that USDA will release the monthly [...]

Stronger cash fed cattle prices and the recent surge in wholesale beef value helped drive Cattle futures higher on Wednesday. Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.92 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $5.97 higher. Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was moderate on moderate demand in Nebraska through [...]