Robin Schmahl

Cattle and hogs diverged Wednesday. Live cattle futures found support from higher cash and continued higher boxed beef prices. Feeder cattle found some support from a lower corn price. Hogs fell apart later in the day as...

The livestock complex extended gains Tuesday, but those gains stemmed from the optimism of traders and not from underlying cash. Futures were low enough to entice traders to step in on the anticipation of the trend turning...

It is anticipated live stocks futures could follow through on Tuesday. Cattle could follow through because of lower grain prices on the overnight while hogs find support from strong cutouts.

Live cattle futures were able to manage a slightly higher close last week, but the same could not be said for feeder cattle and hogs. Packers may not be willing to increase bids early in the week until they see early demand and...

Cattle held well Wednesday in the anticipation of higher cash trade this week. Boxed beef continues to march higher. The confirmation of African swine fever in the Dominican Republic sent concern through the market, causing hog...

The livestock complex took a breather Tuesday with traders now assessing just how much higher beef prices will go and whether the uptrend in hogs can be maintained.

Some follow through is expected in the cattle complex Tuesday, but the strong rally may run into technical resistance as well as higher grain futures again. Hogs may chop around a bit as traders wait for more evidence of higher...

Falling grain prices were able to provide underlying support to the livestock complex. It is questionable as to how long that support will be able to hold futures even though cash prices seem to be weakening. The Cattle on Feed...

Cattle were the beneficiaries of lower grain prices Thursday with similar support possible Friday as overnight grain futures were lower. Trading may be limited as the Cattle on Feed report will be released after the close. Hog...

The livestock complex closed higher across the board Wednesday despite slightly stronger grain prices. The concern is there was little else to hang a hat on in the cattle complex. Hogs saw lower cash, but higher cutouts.

Cattle and hogs diverged Tuesday as cattle fell and hogs climbed. Cash trading was not tested in the cattle market while hogs had some aggressive purchasing by packers at higher prices. A similar situation could develop again...

Cattle futures held well while hog futures fell Monday. Cattle may have been more influenced by corn futures while hogs may have been influenced more by the economy and the large sell-off in other commodities as a result.

There was quite a divergence between cattle and hogs Friday. Cattle just could not find support into the end of the week due to uneventful cash market. Hogs were likely supported by the news that Germany reported two cases...

Livestock futures were generally able to hold their own Thursday and may not trade much differently Friday. Cash cattle trade will be limited with hog buyers likely not being aggressive.

The movement higher of the livestock complex was impressive and welcomed. Cattle futures were more technically driven, while hogs were both technically and fundamentally supported.

Live cattle and hog futures were able to post gains while feeder cattle came under pressure due to higher grain prices. Live cattle were unconvincingly higher with the hope of steady cash this week. Hogs seemed to be the...

There may be some influence on the livestock complex based on results of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand report Monday. Cattle futures are struggling to find support. Hogs will need to see more aggressive buying interest...

It is Friday, and many times traders will take some profits. However, the fact that cattle broke below support Thursday may have turned the market more bearish, leaving sellers more confident to hold positions. Hog futures may...

It was rough day for the livestock complex Wednesday as strong fundamental support was difficult to find. Futures may find some stability Thursday.

Live cattle futures are expected to remain sideways Wednesday with little fundamental reason to push higher. The market was not tested Tuesday, leaving traders guessing as to market strength. Hogs may trade mixed to begin the...

Cattle futures being unable to hold through the end of last week is partially blamed on the disruption to the July Fourth holiday falling on the weekend. However, continued pressure on boxed beef may indicate demand is slowing. Hog...

Cattle and hog futures diverged Thursday. Cattle seems to gain strength as grain prices faded throughout the day. Hogs traded significantly higher for a period of time likely as a result of good export sales but fell hard, closing...

The large change in dynamics of the grain markets will have an influence on the livestock complex. Feedlots may be more willing to move cattle as quickly as possible leaving packers less willing to bid higher. Hogs are balancing market...

Cattle futures may trade with limited price movement as traders will focus on the results of the Acreage and Quarterly Stocks reports due at 11:00 a.m. CT. The results may have an influence on cash cattle activity and feeder...

Cattle futures were the victims of higher grain prices and further steep losses of boxed beef prices. Cash trading has yet to surface. Hogs did an about face Monday with some follow-through short-covering expected Tuesday.

Packers will likely need to increase bids this week in order to increase their ownership of cattle. However, it they do not, futures may fall back again. Hogs have finished another brutal week, but the bounce on Friday may not yet...

Cattle found some stability Thursday, which may continue Friday as the Cattle on Feed report will be released after the close of the market. Hog futures have yet to uncover solid support, but the end of the week could provide...

The livestock complex is struggling as it attempts to find stability. Falling grain prices have not been able to provide solid support to the market. Traders will be looking to the Hogs and Pigs report Thursday and the Cattle on...

Livestock futures finally closed higher in all categories Tuesday. Cattle were spurred higher due to the higher cash prices in the country. Hogs bounced technically but were supported by higher cash. A record one-day decline of...

Cattle futures traders seem to be waiting for cash cattle to trade before being more aggressive. The strong move higher last week ran its course of exuberance due to cash finally trading higher. Hog futures are searching for a...

Live cattle made a token bounce on Friday, and it is unclear whether it will continue. Packers will need to pay higher this week or futures could settle into a sideways pattern. The direction of hogs is anyone's guess, which will...

Nearly everywhere you looked Thursday, liquidation was rampant. The weakness Thursday will be difficult to overcome in the coming days as traders will be hesitant to buy back into the market until some stability is seen.

Wednesday was another day of cattle posting strong gains while hogs fell. Both markets might be overdone based on their respective moves. It is uncertain where traders may step back in and buy the break in hogs or if they will...

Cattle futures extended their gains Tuesday, aided by continued short-covering, lower grain prices, and a jump of cash cattle prices. It is unlikely this strength may continue Wednesday, but it has changed the posture of the...

Cattle and hogs again moved in opposite directions Monday. Cattle were the beneficiaries of lower grain prices; hogs struggled under lower cash and lower cutouts. Cattle futures broke through technical price resistance while hogs...

The cattle complex showed strong gains Friday as traders took advantage of lower grain prices to buy the market. The same may hold true Monday as grains were significantly lower again overnight. Hogs may have a slow, cautious...

At least the livestock complex was able to close mostly higher Thursday. It is considered a victory that cattle futures have been able to trend higher the past two days. Hogs continue the trend higher that does not seem to have...

The fact that a few cattle were traded at steady cash Tuesday does provide hope that cash will trade at least steady for the week. Hogs remain the recipients of stronger cash and seasonally strong demand.

Cattle continue to struggle with a good day being a mixed close in futures. It is doubtful any cattle will be traded Tuesday, but the anticipation is packers may bid lower. Hogs continue to reach for the sky with no sign of price...

Traders may take a wait-n-see attitude early in cattle futures. There is hope for higher cash, but packers may not be too aggressive knowing the cattle are out there. There is no reason to believe there will be a change in...

Traders have basically put the cyberattack on JBS in the rearview mirror as the crisis was averted quickly. Live cattle are struggling with the inability of cash to trade higher and how the seasonal decrease in demand will unfold...

Now that the knee-jerk reaction to the resumption of slaughter at JBS plants has been digested, traders will turn back to assessing the impact of the disruption and the potential backlog of cattle. This may limit upside potential...

The cyberattack shut down five of the largest beef processing facilities in the U.S., which handles about 22,000 cattle per day or about 25% of the beef capacity in the country and nearly 20% of the pork sold in the U.S. JBS...

Cattle futures drifted lower before the holiday weekend. The seasonal potential for slower demand will be weighing on the market unless strong demand continues, requiring packers to aggressively purchase cattle. Hog futures ended...

It is the last trading day of the month and the day before a three-day weekend. This could influence trade in some way or just level futures drifting. USDA said it will not seek to overturn a court ruling ordering pork packing...

The weekly beef export sales report will be adjusted due to the error in reporting the amount of sales to the Netherlands last week. It is unclear how this may impact trading as this has already been known. Overall trade in...

Live cattle could not get much going Tuesday. Some cattle trading already for the week at steady to $1.00 lower did not generate much excitement. Hogs pushed to new contract highs in some months, keeping the strong uptrend intact.

Live cattle futures were lower Monday but held well considering the Cattle on Feed report released Friday. With Memorial Day nearly upon us, there is concern beef demand may slow thereafter. Hogs were lower Monday with some...

The strength of livestock futures last week built a good foundation for follow through gains this week. The reaction to the Cattle on Feed report will be difficult to anticipate and will be the wild card as trading opens for cattle...

Live cattle will be dealing with a large reporting error Thursday on the weekly Export Sales report that could send futures lower. However, the Cattle on Feed report will be released Friday, but the difficulties of comparison to...

One could say the trading action in live cattle and hog futures Wednesday was somewhat like watching paint dry. There was price movement, but not the volatility that we have become accustomed to. Both markets anticipate the...

Both live cattle and hog futures showed a much-awaited bounce. Confidence came from steady-to-higher cash for cattle and higher cash for hogs. The ban of cattle exports by Argentina will need to result in increased demand for...

Both live cattle and hog futures Monday were two sided, indicating no solid price direction. Cash markets are not overly supportive either, leaving futures searching for support.

Last week's closing in the livestock complex did not paint a positive picture for this week with the exception of feeder cattle. Otherwise, some of the fundamentals for both cattle and hogs has turned more bearish. Hogs have the...

Feeder cattle did not quite feel the pressure of the rest of the complex due the weakness of grain futures, but Thursday was not a good day. It may be difficult to recover the losses in the near-term as traders have become...

Most of the livestock complex was able to close higher Tuesday. The hope is that the trend will continue. Export sales reports will have an influence on some trading activity and price direction Wednesday. Lower grain futures may...

Cattle futures were able to perform well despite higher grain futures. There is anticipation of higher cash developing this week, which has provided support. Hogs may have run out of aggressive sellers of futures and with the...

Significantly lower grain prices Monday spurred aggressive buying of cattle futures. Grain futures are not showing continued follow-through Tuesday. This may temper further aggressive buying of cattle futures. Hogs have seen...

There may be little to get traders excited about in the cattle markets to begin the week. However, a futures base has been built over the past two weeks which may provide solid support. It is difficult to say which way hogs will...

Thursday's fairly quiet trade may carry over to Friday. Cattle will be looking at another day of increasing grain prices based on overnight activity. Hogs might see a somewhat uneventful day for cash.