Robin Schmahl

Traders celebrated the New Year with aggressive buying in cattle futures. Feeder cattle surged higher to close the next chart gaps above the market, setting the stage for further strength. Hogs diverged with the nearby...

Cattle futures were able to close the year on a positive note with higher prices. Cash cattle trading activity has not yet taken place. Hog futures had little reason to move one way or the other, with contracts closing mixed.

The livestock complex found further support Tuesday despite no cash cattle trade taking place and limited cash trading of hogs. Both boxed beef and pork cutouts were lower.

Monday likely set the pattern for the week with mixed trading activity in live cattle futures. The expectation is for the cash cattle trade to be steady. Hog futures showed a similar pattern with mixed futures prices and limited...

Cattle futures went into the weekend on a positive note as traders felt confident the weekend was not going to show any surprises in the market. Hog futures were mixed, with contracts through August showing minor losses and...

Live cattle futures closed lower across the board, showing greater weakness than feeder cattle. Usually, feeder cattle futures are the ones leading the movement higher or lower. Hog futures were mixed, with contracts through...

Cattle futures continue to shy away from closing the chart gaps above the market. The less aggressive nature of packers keep traders wary of the upside potential of prices through the end of the year. Hogs found sufficient...

The livestock complex was higher on Monday. Cattle were higher, but not with the exuberance some had anticipated as a reaction to the bullish Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures increased, with the August contract making a new high.

Cattle futures showed strong gains with feeder cattle leading the way. However, even with the strength, contracts failed to close the chart gaps ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures closed with minimal gains with mixed...

Cattle futures closed under pressure despite a light higher cash trade. Traders are positioning themselves ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Hogs closed higher, maintaining the sideways trading range. Prices may hold into the...

Livestock futures declined in all categories and all months. Cattle were under pressure as futures have been unable to push through price resistance. Hog futures turned lower as traders decided to take profits due to a lack of...

Cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday with feeder cattle far outpacing live cattle. Technical traders may be gunning to close the chart gaps. Hog futures found support with contracts closing at a new high in the uptrend as...

Cattle futures were mildly higher with traders supporting the market, but were uncertain whether cash will be able to hold or increase another week. Hog futures closed mixed after rejecting significant pressure during the day.

Cattle futures took a step back ahead of the weekend. Higher cash had been absorbed into the market. Traders took some profit to limit exposure over the weekend. Hog futures closed higher with the February contract taking...

Cattle futures showed significant support as cash cattle traded higher with similar gains as last week. Hog futures showed strong gains in contracts through August on higher cash and cutouts.

Livestock futures closed higher in all but the spot December live cattle and lean hog contracts. Traders remained optimistic for at least steady cash trade this week. Hogs found support as demand seems to be building.

The cattle complex was mixed with traders finding little direction. The boxed beef trade has not been robust, and cash cattle have yet to trade. Although hog futures closed lower in all but the spot December contract, the...

Cattle futures tried to extend gains but could not move and hold into positive territory. The strong gains of the past two weeks may have run their course. Hog futures found sufficient...

Cattle futures closed higher Friday with December live cattle leading the way due to the strong cash prices. The market has been adjusting to the fundamentals. Hog futures gained ground, pushing through and closing above...

It was another good day in the cattle complex, and rightly so, with cash trading substantially higher. Packers were short-bought and needed to purchase cattle. Hog futures found buying interest to add to the strength of...

Both cattle and hog futures closed higher on Wednesday. Cattle continued higher, fueled by the optimism for higher cash trade. Hogs may have found some technical support that could provide further strength today.

Cattle futures had another wild day with strong gains after a higher opening. Futures increased on trader perception and technical buying. Hog futures continued their weakness as more of last week's gains were eliminated.

Cattle futures began the day with slight gains, but contracts failed to uncover continued support. Traders may be cautious, keeping the market choppy until cash trade develops. Hog futures suffered minor losses as traders found...

Cattle rebounded sharply after the spike bottom that was put in on Tuesday. Short covering through the holiday and the end of the month fueled the rally. Hog futures closed mixed on Friday as traders assessed the market's...

The cattle market on Wednesday did what cattle futures have been doing recently and may continue to do for some time. Heightened volatility will be the norm and any slight news will create either positivity or uncertainty. Hog...

Nearby live cattle contracts could not pull into positive territory by the close after trading on both sides of unchanged. Differed live cattle and feeder cattle rebounded. Hogs were able to hold gains ahead of the holiday, likely...

Follow-through selling is almost certain to take place today as traders remain uncertain over the impact of the Tyson plant closing in Nebraska. Hogs rebounded somewhat from the losses on...

Cattle futures attempted to hold higher but could not muster sufficient buying interest to accomplish the task. Lower cash and the Cattle on Feed report kept pressure on the market. Hog futures were unable to find support...

Cattle futures could not find the buying interest to keep prices in positive territory Thursday. Lower cash trade earlier and the upcoming Cattle on Feed report are not providing support. Hog futures were able to close higher...

Cattle futures took it on the chin Wednesday as cash traded lower in the country. November feeder cattle closed higher, with Thursday the last trading day for the contract. Hogs rebounded from Tuesday's losses with technical...

Cattle futures could not generate consistent buying interest on Tuesday, resulting in a mixed close. Traders are uncertain of the impact of the reduction in tariffs on some countries announced last week and the impact on beef...

Cattle futures pushed higher Monday as traders felt more comfortable buying due to the rebound from technical support on Friday. But even with the gains, it did not turn the trend higher. Hogs were mixed in nearby months, but...

Livestock futures closed the week on a positive note, but trader excitement may be difficult to unfold Monday. The lower cash prices for cattle have been absorbed, with little reason to be excited over cash this week. Hog...

Volatility seems to be the norm in livestock markets anymore. Thursday the livestock futures mostly traded lower and are expected to remain lower to close out this Friday.

An exciting start of the week with live cattle and feeder cattle futures trading limit higher. Expanded limits will be in place today, but not expected to be reached. However, a continuation of higher prices is likely. Hogs also had a...

Last week ended with a sharp decline in futures for both cattle and hogs, week-over-week. Traders are exiting long positions quickly as trading headlines has been a volatile game over the last few weeks.

There was little to support the cattle complex on Thursday. Live cattle tried to gain some traction, but negativity overwhelmed the market. Hogs continue to decline with the weak trend remaining intact.

The carnage resumed in cattle futures Wednesday with Katie-Bar-the-Door selling activity. The uncertainty was too much for traders holding long positions and they wanted to liquidate. Hogs drifted with contracts closing mixed and...

Cattle traders are going to struggle with the uncertainty of the market. Any news from the government pertaining to cattle will create substantial volatility. Hogs continue to see pressure as stability in cash and cutouts remains...

Cattle futures are on a roller coaster with volatile trade. It may be difficult for futures to trend higher, but prices may remain supported. Hog futures were mixed Monday, with traders uncertain if prices have found a bottom.

Cattle futures will have a difficult time turning the trend higher. The damage has been done to the emotional stability of the market. Price rallies are likely to be short-lived in the near term. Hog futures continue to struggle with...

Cattle futures spent time on both sides of unchanged Thursday, eventually closing with minor gains. Light cash trade indicates lower prices. Hog futures continued to struggle as packers remained unaggressive.

Cattle futures were oversold Wednesday and also found support after the news that cattle imports from Mexico will not resume anytime soon. Hog futures made a valiant attempt to hold gains, but were unable to find solid support.

It appears the liquidation phase may have run its course. Feeder cattle spent a portion of the day trading limit down, but did not hold through the end of Tuesday. Hog futures were unable to find support with continued pressure...

The desire to liquidate positions continued Monday. However, traders were not able to liquidate many positions in feeder cattle due to them being locked limit down. Hogs felt some of the pressure from cattle, but also showed...

Cattle futures were hit from different angles Friday with contracts limit down. It was a dismal end to a difficult week. Hog futures showed little change with traders uncertain of market direction.

The weakness of feeder cattle futures limited the strength in live cattle. Nearby live cattle futures are keeping close to the expectations for cash. Hog futures saw further pressure, pushing nearby contracts below support...

The rhetoric from the government has created much uncertainty for traders, triggering liquidation. Feeder cattle closed limit down with expanded trading limits today. Hog futures were mixed, with nearby contracts showing weakness...

It appears the cattle complex has considered the potential for government intervention in the cattle market and decided it would not have much impact. Hog futures found strength likely due to an oversold market and not because...

The cattle market digested the comments from President Trump last week and decided it was not going to change much for the beef industry. Live cattle did not follow through to the downside Monday, with further weakness in...

Cattle futures were hit hard Friday as a result of President Trump indicating the government had a plan to reduce beef prices. That statement triggered liquidation despite significantly higher cash trade. Hog futures close mixed...

There seems to be no stopping the rise in cattle futures. Price weakness is short-lived and confined to the intraday. Live cattle posted new contract highs again Thursday. Hog futures continued to struggle, still unable to find...

Cattle futures were in a tug-of-war on Wednesday, eventually closing mixed. Traders are waiting to see what cash will do. If cash is steady or higher, support will be maintained. Hogs had a strong beginning to Wednesday, but early...

The cattle market continued its incredible resilience Tuesday. Trading lower for a brief period before traders became aggressive buyers, pushing futures to new highs. Hog futures gapped lower on the open and never looked back.

There is no ceiling in the cattle market with new contract highs continuing daily. The strength Monday was due to continued optimism over higher prices. Hogs continued to struggle with nearby contracts higher and later contracts...

The cattle complex was lower in early trading Friday, influenced by the overall reaction to further announcements concerning China. That was overcome by stronger cash prices. Hog futures did not react much to the announcement...

Feeder cattle futures are on fire, increasing each day this week and reaching new contract highs. Feeder cattle have provided the spillover support for live cattle. Hogs have moved in the opposite direction as fundamental...

Cattle futures continued to push higher Wednesday. The April and later live cattle contacts made new highs, while all feeder cattle contracts made new highs. Traders exhibit renewed optimism. Hog futures were unable to find a solid...

Traders remained aggressive buyers in cattle futures contracts near the high in live cattle and new contract highs in deferred feeder cattle contracts on Tuesday. Hog traders did not like what they saw in pork cutouts and the...