Robin Schmahl

Cattle found solid buying on Monday with the nearby feeder cattle contracts able to close the chart gaps. Boxed beef was higher in both categories. Hogs found support in the deferred contracts despite cutout weakness.

Cattle futures closed higher Friday despite cash cattle trading lower. The weakness of cash had already been factored in and short-covering took place ahead of the weekend. Hog futures closed higher after four consecutive days...

Both live and feeder cattle futures fell back to close at new lows for the week on Thursday. The continued decline in boxed beef is taking its toll. Hog futures fell further on continued weakness in cash and cutouts.

Cattle futures closed mixed Wednesday, torn between a tight cattle supply and lower beef prices. Nearby contracts were lower with deferred contracts higher. Hogs took it on the chin again, suffering triple-digit losses in the...

Feeder cattle led the charge higher Tuesday with live cattle reluctant to follow. Live cattle opened lower and traded lower for a time, but the strength of feeder cattle pulled them into positive territory. Hog futures moved in...

Volatility was limited Monday in comparison to what we have seen on many days. The cattle complex ended with minimal losses after spending some time posting gains. Hog futures diverged with minor pressure on contracts through May...

The lower cash cattle trade did not cause liquidation ahead of the weekend, as it had already been factored in. Traders may be cautious to begin the week. Hog futures showed resilience, supported by the Hogs & Pigs report...

Cattle futures were hit with two negative influences. Cash cattle traded lower, and boxed beef prices fell. Futures have fallen back significantly over the past three days. Hog futures made a valiant attempt at increasing but...

Selling pressure permeated throughout the livestock complex on Wednesday. The only exception was September feeder cattle, as today is the last trading day. Continued weakness in boxed beef and lower cash and cutouts for pork...

Live cattle futures showed some profit-taking and spread trading Tuesday, pressuring the nearby contracts. Feeder cattle held and extended the gains of Monday. Hog futures postd another strong day with all contracts making...

Traders gained confidence in the cattle maket Monday, encouraged by the bullish Cattle on Feed report. Buying was aggressive, pushing January and later feeder cattle contracts limit up. Hogs futures found support with June and...

Traders supported cattle futures into the close Friday and ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. The market ran out of steadm shortly after the previous report and the same may hold this time. Hog futures held onto slight gains...

Cattle futures defied the prospect of lower cash and the continued weakness of boxed beef to close higher Thursday. Tight cattle supplies seem to remain the focus. Hog futures were mixed...

It appears cattle futures have run out of steam as the weakness on Wednesday nearly eliminated the gains of the week. The expectation for lower cash and weak boxed beef provides the pressure. Hog futures had nothing positive...

Live cattle futures spent Tuesday in negative territory, while feeder cattle did spend some time higher, but could not hold. The recent downtrend seems difficult to turn. Boxed beef was very weak Tuesday. Hog futures were mixed...

Traders turned to aggressive buying Monday, but will it be enough to keep the momentum? The potential for lower cash cattle trade this week is looming. Hog futures were able to close with minor gains as traders are content to...

Lower cash cattle prices and weakness in boxed beef put pressure on cattle futures Friday. After a valiant attempt by traders to turn the market higher, the downtrend may resume. Hogs struggled in the nearby months as cash...

Live cattle futures regained more of the losses, while feeder cattle traders found the confidence to buy back into the market. The large decline on Tuesday was a knee-jerk reaction to the statement about lower beef prices by...

Live cattle and feeder cattle futures diverged, with pressure continuing on feeder cattle. Light cash trade points to lower prices this week. The party may be over for the time being. Hog futures showed strength in the nearby...

It was a "Katie, bar the door" selling event on Tuesday as a combination of things triggered heavy liquidation. Negative news was the catalyst that triggered the selling. Hog futures did not succumb to spillover pressure from...

Both live cattle and hogs traded similarly. Cattle futures tried to regain some of the losses of last week, but the effort failed as futures were unable to make a higher high during the trading day. Hog futures closed at new...

Live cattle closed lower for the week, which has been unusual for quite some time. Mixed cash trade may cause further liquidation. Hog futures resumed the uptrend after a brief retracement, posting new contract highs.

Cattle futures were under pressure most of the day Thursday. For the third day in a row, cattle were lower -- making it the first time in months we've seen cattle futures trade lower for over two consecutive days. Hog futures...

Cattle and hog futures were under pressure most of the day Wednesday. For the second day in a row, cattle were lower, starting September out with some profit taking. Hog futures took their first day lower in over a week.

Cattle futures saw late day pressure Tuesday with a disappointing close after a promising start to the day. Hogs took the driver's seat and allowed traders to close higher. Markets are expected to continue to climb in hogs and...

Cattle futures continued their quest for new highs last week in what seems like the never-ending rally. But what goes up, must come down eventually, but fundamentally, the tight numbers may still have upside to continue this week...

Traders pressured the August live cattle contract Thursday as we headed to the last trading day, with some positioning ahead of the extended weekend in later contracts. Hogs continued to slowly grind higher with demand optimism...

Livestock futures closed higher Wednesday with both cattle and hogs extending gains to new highs. A few cattle were traded in the country but not enough to indicate direction for the week. Cash hogs were higher but that may be...

The cattle market is possessed by a bullish sentiment that will not subside. Futures posted new contract highs again across the complex Tuesday. Hogs moved above technical resistance with the April and later months making new...

Cattle futures exhibited volatility with a wide trading range throughout Monday, resulting in a mixed close at the end of the day. Traders grappled with Friday's report and the news of the New World screwworm. Hog futures closed...

New contract highs were made in the cattle market Friday as traders anticipated a friendly Cattle on Feed report and were not shy about buying futures in response to higher cash paid in the country. Hogs followed suit, seemingly...

Both cattle and hog futures were mixed Thursday as there was little for traders to hang their hats on. Limited cash cattle trade and the upcoming report kept the cattle trade choppy. Hogs had little fundamental support.

Traders were not shy about pushing cattle futures to new contract highs Wednesday with feeder cattle leading the way. There was no caution shown over the upcoming Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures were mixed with traders...

Trading was not quite as exuberant Tuesday as it has been recently, but most live cattle contracts and all feeder cattle contracts closed at new highs. Hog futures closed mixed with uncertainty dominating the market. Cash was...

Cattle futures pushed higher Monday after spending a little time in negative territory. Most contracts closed at new highs, fueled by strong demand. Hogs closed slightly higher, which was impressive given the benign fundamentals of...

Friday was an explosive day in the cattle market as the announcement that the Mexican border will remain closed propelled the market higher. Light cash cattle trade at steady to higher prices also provided support. Hogs...

It seemed as if traders wanted to get ahead of a possible Friday selloff and took profits a day earlier just in case. The fundamentals did not suggest negativity. Hog futures posted triple-digit losses Thursday, due to cash and...

Cattle futures spent about as much time in the negative as they did in the positive Wednesday, closing mixed. That hesitancy may continue Thursday until cash is confirmed. Hogs were under pressure from the sharp losses in...

Cattle futures found footing Tuesday as traders continued to buy the break, similar to the pattern of 1 1/2 weeks ago. Demand remains strong with boxed beef prices higher. Hog traders were uncertain of price direction, ultimately...

Cattle traders were not sure what they wanted to do Monday. There was some follow-through selling during the day, but that did not continue as the underlying fundamentals remain bullish. Hog futures closed higher with support...

Cattle futures took a beating as lower cash trade triggered liquidation. The market was poised to fall on any negative news, and Friday was the day. Hogs withstood the negativity of the cattle market as traders held their...

After a cautious opening Thursday, futures found footing as boxed beef prices showed impressive gains for the third consecutive day. Hog futures showed pressure on the nearby months due to weakness in the cash market.

Cattle futures found further footing Wednesday with the October live cattle contract the only one unable to make new highs in the entire complex. Feeder cattle showed substantial gains, leading the complex. Hog futures were mixed...

Livestock had a strong Tuesday with feeder cattle leading the way. New contract highs were achieved in the August cattle contracts. Boxed beef prices posted substantial gains. Hogs were higher on aggressive buying by packers.

Both cattle and hog futures were higher Monday, supported by higher product values. It has been unusual recently to see both categories of boxed beef higher on the same day. Hog futures moved above technical resistance in the...

Cattle futures found some footing Friday, with August live cattle showing an impressive gain as it needs to narrow the gap to cash. Higher cash prices Friday will support the market. Hog futures closed higher, moving contracts...

The castle complex came under severe pressure Thursday, which seemed to be more technical than anything else. An overbought market eventually corrects, and that is what took place. Hogs defied any spillover pressure and cash...

Live cattle futures found substantial support from traders Wednesday with nearby contracts outpacing feeder cattle. Light cash trade fueled the fire. Hog futures found minor support but were unable to regain the losses of...

Cattle futures continue higher despite the weakness of boxed beef. Traders seem to just focus on the uptrend that continues to show new highs on nearly a daily basis. Hogs moved in the other direction as futures fell below the...

New contract highs were seen across the cattle complex. Recent reports have shown no reason to believe the market may be near a top. The uptrend remains intact. Hog futures continue to remain rangebound. There was little...

Traders were not afraid to support cattle futures ahead of two major reports. Cash trading $1.00 higher provided support. Hog futures could not find further support, maintaining a sideways market pattern.

Cattle futures pulled back Thursday as anticipated due to traders positioning ahead of two major reports Friday. The market remains bullish, but the reports may increase volatility next week. Hog futures held their own again on...

Cattle futures found solid buying interest Wednesday as contracts continue to reach for the sky. The upcoming reports have not hindered the upward momentum, as the market continues to surge higher. Hog futures did not share...

Most cattle futures contracts closed at new contract highs Tuesday. Traders do not seem to be concerned about packers having more cattle surrounding them or the Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures were higher in most...

New highs were made across the cattle complex Monday with no sign of slowing down. Price weakness has been a buying opportunity. Fund traders continue to add to their long positions. Hog futures struggled during the day but...

Traders took a wait-and-see attitude in the market Friday. Cash cattle traded steady to $1.00 higher, but the weakness in boxed beef is cause for concern. Hog futures closed higher on renewed optimism over pork demand. Trade...

Traders took a wait-and-see attitude in cattle Thursday as the uncertainty over cash and the direction of boxed beef was the focus. Hog futures moved to reduce the losses of earlier in the week as traders gained confidence...

The livestock complex showed gains across the board Wednesday with feeder cattle leading the way. The strength in cattle defied the weakness in boxed beef. Hog futures found support Wednesday after the liquidation phase concluded.

Live cattle regained the losses of Monday on Tuesday, with some contracts closing at new highs. Cash cattle have not yet traded, but the discount to cash should provide further support to the market. Hog futures fell for the...

The livestock complex suffered substantial losses Monday with significant declines in both cattle and hogs. Beef demand seems to be showing a seasonal downtrend as boxed beef prices decline. Hog futures and cutouts have been...

Cattle futures pushed higher, fueled by stronger cash. The expectation of no better than steady cash was put to rest as packers turned aggressive. Hog futures were under pressure as the packers pulled back, resulting in...

Cattle futures were a case study in volatility on Thursday. A higher opening and sharply higher trade ran its course with futures falling back substantially after new contract highs. Hog futures tried to build on recent minor...

Follow-through buying continued on Wednesday as traders felt confident of further gains, given the trend has turn higher. The pressure on boxed beef had no significant impact. Technical traders seemed to provide support to the...

Cattle futures found solid buying interest from traders, pushing all cattle contracts to new highs. Hogs did not follow suit, closing mixed with uncertainty over the cash price and returning cutout weakness.