Robin Schmahl

Cattle futures closed higher in most contracts Monday, but the gains lacked conviction. The strength in choice boxed beef may be what is needed to provide support. Hog futures posted nice...

Live cattle futures already had higher cash prices factored in, resulting in a mixed close Friday, while feeder cattle closed with solid gains. Hog futures were mixed as traders were more optimistic, but cautious, over the nearby...

Cattle futures succumbed under substantial pressure tied to weakness in choice boxed beef and technical selling. Hog futures showed further weakness as traders remain uncertain about continued demand.

Traders are fighting to keep the trend higher for cattle futures. Boxed beef is not fully supporting the market, but demand may improve. Hog futures took it on the chin on Wednesday with traders disappointed with the market's...

Cattle futures began lower on Tuesday, but found support as the day progressed. Boxed beef prices are finding support. Hog futures closed higher, but the fundamentals are not providing specific price direction.

Cattle futures made a valiant effort to extend Friday's gains, but failed into the close. Hog futures closed mixed, with spread trading putting pressure on the nearby contracts. Traders were uncertain over continued demand.

Cattle traders reduced some of their exuberance seen much of the week as the market corrected to be more in line with cash. Hog futures bounced after two brutal days of losses, but will...

Cattle futures closed higher Thursday as some light cash cattle trade was reported at higher prices than last week. Nearby feeder cattle spent some time in negative territory before finding...

Cattle futures posted gains Wednesday with optimism that cash may be no worse than steady this week. However, lower boxed beef may suggest otherwise. Hog futures took it on the chin as...

Live cattle futures closed higher Tuesday as much of the bearish news had been factored in. Feeder cattle diverged with nearby issues significantly higher while later contracts declined. Hog futures regained much of the losses of...

Cattle traders did not like the news of the U.S. border reopening for cattle imports. Deferred feeder cattle futures locked limit down by the close. Hog futures were under pressure from the beginning as the market seems to be...

Cattle futures closed higher on Friday as traders had positioned themselves before the Cattle on Feed report. The report was neutral and will likely have limited influence on the market.

Much of the trading activity in cattle futures on Thursday was positioning ahead of the Cattle on Feed report Friday. Lower cash had been factored in and was not a focus. Hog futures closed...

Cattle futures plummeted on Wednesday after the slight bounce on Tuesday. Packers are bidding lower as expected. Hog futures continued to find support with higher highs and higher lows on Wednesday. The uptrend remains intact.

Cattle futures failed in their attempt to extend the strong gains of Monday. Higher prices could not hold, with futures closed $1.00 or more off their highs. Hog futures closed with minor gains, keeping the uptrend intact.

Cattle finally found sufficient support to result in a higher close. The oversold market likely triggered short-covering. Hog futures were mixed, but maintained the recent gains as traders have turned more optimistic over demand.

Cattle futures could not catch a break on Friday, with new lows in live cattle and support being penetrated in the October, December, and February contracts. Hog futures continued the rally, with August and October posting...

Live cattle futures broke below support, adding to the already negative market so far this month. Feeder cattle futures are on their way to do the same. Hogs held onto the strong gains from Wednesday as fundamental support...

Cattle futures continue to struggle Thursday as demand remains lackluster and cash prices move lower. Hog futures show exceptional support as pork packers remain aggressive.

Cattle futures were lower right out of the gate on Tuesday and never looked back. The continued weakness in boxed beef and the prospect of low cash weighed on the market. Hog futures...

Cattle futures tried to turn the trend and run higher, but ran out of steam, resulting in a mixed close for live cattle and lower feeder cattle futures. Hogs came under pressure with traders...

It is as if cattle futures are in free fall. Futures open higher, but turn lower as trading progresses and liquidation continues. Hogs closed mixed, but the pressure seemed to lack conviction.

Cattle futures spent about the first two hours of the day in mostly positive territory, but then they went downhill fast as lower cash trade began to surface. Nearby hog contracts closed lower while deferred contracts found...

There was quite the volatility in cattle futures on Wednesday, with live cattle closing lower and feeder cattle closing higher. Hog futures had a fire lit under them, closing with strong triple-digit gains in what could be the...

Livestock futures closed lower except for the front-month August feeder cattle and lean hog contracts. Hogs continued their choppy pattern while cattle showed further liquidation.

The cattle complex appeared to be struggling with new lows again on Monday. Some liquidation is taking place. Hogs held and continue to build support.

Cattle futures showed further weakness with traders showing continued disappointment over the weakness in cash and boxed beef. Hog futures again showed spread trading as uncertainty surrounds the market potential at the end...

Cattle futures made a valiant effort to trade higher, but could not hold the gains. The nearby August contract made a lower high and higher low despite the large discount to cash. Traders continue to trade spreads, with...

The August live cattle contract becoming the lead-month did not have any impact on the market from a bullish standpoint. The continued weakness was a bit surprising. Hog futures continued...

Cattle futures were under pressure from the start and remained that way throughout the day. There is a possibility that follow-through selling could continue. Hog futures reversed the...

June live cattle futures stretched to a new high on Thursday as the discount to cash needed to be reduced. Other contracts did not show much strength. Hog futures showed little change...

Cattle futures closed higher as the potential for higher cash this week looks to be more of a reality. Hog futures were mixed with nearby contracts giving back some of their earlier gains as...

Resistance held and cattle futures set back. However, that may have been due to some profit-taking and not a change in trend. Hog futures struggled all day to post an increase, but could not...

Cattle futures opened higher in reaction to the Cattle on Feed report, but did not hold the initial gains. Feeder cattle futures performed well, but closed well off their highs. Hog futures could...

Cattle futures set back on Thursday as traders prepared for the Cattle on Feed report and the extended weekend. Hogs closed mixed as traders had little to influence their trading...

Live cattle futures spent time on both sides of unchanged, ending the day slightly lower. Feeder cattle futures were under pressure, but finally closed higher. Hog futures bounced but had little...

Cattle futures uncovered substantial buying interest on Tuesday, with live cattle making a run toward contract highs. Traders see that the recent news has not impacted demand, providing...

Cattle futures found support on the open. Plant closings and the New World screwworm have been taken in stride and deemed not bearish for the market. Hog futures fell back with the October through February contracts making...

Cattle futures spent little time in positive territory on Friday with traders more interested in positioning ahead of the weekend and the uncertainty of cash. Hog futures found support after an initial drop to new lows. Then...

Cattle futures uncovered further buying interest with feeder cattle leading the way after an uneventful opening. Hog futures showed minor strength in the August and later contracts. Friday is...

Cattle futures were able to extend their gains due to the expectation for no worse than steady cash trade this week. Hog futures tried to claw their way higher, but buying interest ran out...

Cattle futures found strength on the idea that cash may trade steady to higher this week. Traders are uncertain over the impact of the New World screwworm, but seem to feel demand will not...

Cattle futures tried to push higher, but further cases of the New World screwworm (NWS) seemed to cause sufficient uncertainty to trigger selling pressure. Hogs followed a similar pattern with...

Cattle futures closed higher but were well off their highs achieved during the day. Steady cash was a bit of a disappointment. Hog futures nearly retested the lows of earlier in the week.

The volatility in cattle futures was exceptional as the market initially reacted negatively to the news, but then reversed quickly on a sell-the-rumor, buy-the-fact scenario. Hog futures did not...

Cattle futures were lower, with feeder cattle under greater pressure. This pressure stemmed from the concern over the New World screwworm. Hog futures posted further gains, with contracts...

Cattle futures showed weakness from the news of cases of the New World screwworm closer to the U.S. and the potential for lower cash cattle trade this week. Hog futures struggled for a...

Cattle futures regained most of the losses on Friday, leaving the market in a choppy, sideways pattern. The New World screwworm (NWS) has become a greater threat. Hogs broke through support...

The livestock complex closed under pressure on Friday. Cash cattle traded lower and cash hogs traded lower. Both cattle and hogs were lower for the week.

Cattle futures tried to hold gains and push higher on Thursday, but bullish traders finally gave up and prices declined. Hog futures were able to close in positive territory as a further...

Cattle futures found strong buying interest that remained throughout the day. The discount to cash may support the market. Hog futures bounced likely from the oversold status, but...

Cattle futures had little negative reaction to the Cattle on Feed report. Futures tried to make a strong increase during the day, but ran out of steam. Hog futures took it on the chin again...

Feeder cattle fell ahead of the report on Friday and rightly so as placements came in higher than expected. Live cattle held with an already discounted price to cash. Hog futures closed mixed...

The cattle complex was hit hard on Thursday. Traders liquidated ahead of the Cattle on Feed report and the three-day weekend. It is uncertain whether hog futures fell in sympathy or from...

Live cattle futures opened about steady, but could not find any further support, resulting in contracts trading lower throughout the day. Feeder cattle futures found support to close higher...

Feeder cattle provided support to the cattle complex, dragging live cattle futures higher. May feeder cattle go off the board on Thursday. Hog futures again moved in the other direction with...

Cattle futures opened higher and traded higher for a period of time, but even the positive news of China renewing registrations was not enough to maintain support. Hog futures were very...

Live cattle closed higher on the week, but were not able to move to new contract highs despite strong cash developing. Hog futures closed the week holding just above support as supportive...

Cash cattle traded higher on Thursday, but that had a limited impact on futures. Futures opened higher and traded higher for a time before selling pressure gained the upper hand. Hog futures...

It was a crazy day for cattle futures on Wednesday. Futures climbed steadily shortly after the market opened, with live cattle leading the way. Hogs posted a similar pattern with the price rally beginning at the open and rising...

Cattle futures opened higher and then moved higher before liquidation was triggered, and futures fell back. Positive news was overshadowed by profit-taking. Hog futures fell, taking back the...