Robin Schmahl

Cattle futures tried to move higher Thursday but succumbed to further selling pressure in the end. This is surprising as cash cattle traded higher this week. Hogs put in somewhat of a quiet day with August closing its chart gap.

Cash cattle trade made another large jump Wednesday, but traders were having none of it. Liquidation ran rampant across the cattle complex as sellers were aggressive. Hogs showed weakness, partly from spillover pressure, but...

Cattle continue to reach for the stars with no sign of running out of fuel. The early indication is cash cattle will trade higher again this week after light trade Tuesday. Hogs have had an incredible turn of cash as packers want...

Cattle were able to hold moderate gains Monday, partly in response to lower corn and partly due to stronger boxed beef. Spread trading took place in hogs with pressure on nearby contracts, while October and later contracts...

The cattle markets were a sight to behold last week with futures showing substantial gains due to incredibly strong cash. Hogs posted a strong week due to gains in cash and cutout prices.

The cattle market exploded Thursday as cash cattle traded significantly higher. Once cash trade developed, futures pushed higher, bringing feeder cattle along with it. Hogs showed gains only in June with later contracts lower.

Livestock was higher across the board Wednesday as cash optimism remains strong for cattle. Feeder cattle are in demand at auctions with higher prices paid for tight supplies. Cash hogs were substantially higher as recently...

Tuesday was a banner day for livestock with hogs leading the way. I can't believe I could even say that due to hogs having been the worst performing area of livestock for quite some time. Cash cattle did not trade but optimism is...

Live cattle futures closed in positive territory with all contracts posting new highs. Demand continues to remain strong in the face of tightening supplies. Feeder cattle could not follow the same pattern, closing lower as traders...

Cattle were able to post gains for Thursday with the nearby-June contract showing the greatest strength. Good export sales may have provided some support. Hogs fell apart and are still unable to find support as packers have...

Cattle found the support they needed as cash trading commenced with prices higher than last week. Feedlots' higher asking prices were met as packers wanted cattle. Hogs had a tough day in nearby contracts while showing minor...

Livestock futures were under pressure for the most part Tuesday. May feeder cattle adjusted to the index as they go off the board Thursday. Hogs showed spread trading between the nearby against August and October contracts.

The cattle complex closed mixed after showing substantial pressure early in the trading period Monday. The negative reaction to the atypical BSE case put pressure, but that was digested into the overall market. Hogs plummeted to...

Cash cattle traded steady to $2.00 higher into the end of last week, which certainly was supportive to the market. The Cattle on Feed report was neutral. Hogs took a beating, pushing to new lows in most contracts despite higher...

Feeder cattle were on fire Thursday, posting gains of over $3.00 in several contracts. This pulled live cattle higher, even though there was no solid direction of cash so far. Hogs were under pressure for a time with spread...

Live cattle showed some spread trading Wednesday with nearby contracts closing higher on the prospects of steady cash. Feeder cattle could not find support from the fall of corn. Hogs plummeted as two days of strength were...

Live cattle struggled to see a positive close, but traders were complacent and cautious over what cash cattle will do this week. Feeder cattle gained about as much as live cattle lost. Hogs were mixed with spread trading evident...

The livestock complex closed higher Monday with feeder cattle and hogs showing the most strength. Cattle seemed to continue to ride on the positive estimates of the WASDE report. Hogs pushed higher on cutout strength.

Cattle put in a strong close with feeder cattle leading the way. The bearish reaction of corn to the WASDE report was much of the catalyst to trigger reactive buying interest. Hogs struggled much of Friday, closing mixed as the...

Live cattle could not close in positive territory as lower cash trade left traders unwilling to support the market. Feeder cattle were mostly higher in response to lower corn prices. Hogs were lower in most contracts with the most...

Cattle tried to push higher yesterday but failed. The potential for higher cash this week began to dim as a few cattle traded yesterday. Hogs traded higher for a time, but the caution of traders overcame the optimism.

Livestock futures pushed higher yesterday with feeder cattle showing the greatest gain likely as a reaction to much lower corn prices. Hogs found their legs after a period of mixed trading early in the day.

The cattle complex was able to post gains with feeder cattle showing greater strength. Hog tried to move into positive territory but could not find sufficient buying interest to move futures into positive territory.

Live cattle futures were mixed with contracts settling on both sides of unchanged on Friday. Feeder cattle and hogs traded and closed under pressure with hogs falling apart.

The cattle complex could only muster mixed futures Thursday as the selling pressure subsided. Hogs came under further pressure as traders are not convinced the market will trend higher.

The livestock complex was under pressure with both cattle and hog futures posting double-digit losses. Liquidation gripped the cattle market the past two days due to cash weakness. Hogs ran out of steam as cash and cutouts...

The pressure was on cattle futures again Tuesday with feeder cattle posting substantial losses. Early cash trade showed further weakness. Hogs held their own as futures consolidated despite higher cash Monday and a possible...

Cattle were under pressure Monday as concern mounted over ongoing demand. Lower cash last week may be difficult to overcome. Hogs took a breather, even though cash was strong to begin the week. A sell-the-rally mentality was...

Live cattle held up well on Friday as traders were not sure of the final outcome for cash and the fact that June already had a decrease factored in. Hogs found further support from strong cutouts.

Cattle closed higher Thursday after spending some time at lower prices. The anticipation is growing for solid cash trade to take place. Hogs held well Thursday after the large increase Wednesday. Cash was very strong.

Cattle futures were under pressure for a portion of Wednesday, only to find strength over time, partially in response to lower corn prices. Hogs uncovered strong support as Wednesday progressed and strong packer demand...

The cattle complex settled lower Tuesday. Cattle traders are uncertain over cash this week due to what took place last week and variable boxed beef prices. Hogs were under some pressure in nearby months due to weaker cutouts...

Live cattle futures closed higher in April and May contracts while the rest of the cattle complex closed lower. Hog futures had another nice day of higher prices as both technical buying and cutout prices provided support.

Live cattle futures closed mixed Friday as traders were cautious ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. There were no further surprises for the cash market. Hog futures found some support after some initial weakness, likely on...

Cattle futures did an about-face Thursday after spending time in negative territory. Feeder cattle had an impressive price swing as traders bought the break. Hogs reacted to Wednesday's lower cutouts and the inability of cash...

Cattle came under pressure Wednesday as cash cattle began trading steady to $1.00 lower. Spread trading dominated feeder cattle futures. Hogs closed mostly higher due to better cutouts the previous day and an oversold market.

Cattle futures were able to overcome selling pressure Tuesday and closed higher. The gains were not substantial, but gains, nevertheless. Hog futures nearly eliminated the entire gains of the previous two days.

Cattle futures turned higher after two days of weakness with traders anticipating higher cash again this week. They are not waiting for it but desire to get ahead of it. Hog futures pushed higher for the second day, partially...

Live cattle closed lower for the second consecutive day Friday, leaving traders guessing why after the strong cash gains during the week. Spread trading was evident in feeder cattle. Hogs were able to close higher after a dismal...

Cattle futures gapped open again Thursday, pushing to new contract highs, but then retraced, filling the gap and closed lower. The exception was the nearby April contracts. Hogs opened lower and extended the losses as the day...

The cattle complex continues to make new contract highs with no sign of slowing down. Hogs continue to move in the opposite direction, struggling under the weight of the lack of demand.

Livestock futures were higher across the board except for April hogs. New contract highs in the cattle complex keep both technical and fundamental traders active. Hogs are trying to find support, but traders have not been able...

All cattle futures gapped higher at the open and never looked back Thursday. Significantly higher cash trade late Wednesday prompted the jump in futures. Hogs did not follow the same pattern, spending time on both sides of...

Live cattle and April lean hogs were the only ones that closed in positive territory Wednesday. Traders anticipate higher cash cattle this week and are anxious to see business take place. Feeder cattle have not been reacting to...

The livestock complex was lower across the board Tuesday, even though corn prices were lower. Live cattle were lower with traders cautious over the strength of cash this week. High beef prices may impact demand. Hogs fell apart...

Live cattle struggled Monday, closing lower as economic concerns again came to the forefront. Higher fuel prices due to an OPEC cut in output could have an impact on already high beef prices. Hogs moved in a $2.00 price range...

Both live cattle and feeder cattle were higher across the board Thursday. Traders found solid footing with feedlots able to see cash trade $4.00 to $5.00 higher. Hogs struggled somewhat throughout the day with most of futures...

Cattle futures continued to regain ground Wednesday as cash trade has not yet taken place and it appears higher cash might be in the cards. Hogs were under pressure right from the start as funds seem to be comfortable...

Live cattle were able to hold minor gains with traders having little to focus on to influence trading. Feeder cattle were mixed, influenced by mixed corn trade. Hogs were mixed with some spread trading between nearby and deferred...

The livestock complex came to life Monday, posting strong gains across the board. It was as if the up-to-date Commitment of Traders report triggered short-covering in an oversold market.

Friday was a good end to the week for live cattle and hogs. Both closed in positive territory with hogs posting the greatest gain. Feeder cattle struggled due to higher corn futures.

Live cattle closed slightly lower as mixed cash trading did not develop any excitement. Mixed boxed beef also continues to be the pattern. Hog futures again made new lows but were able to bounce as short-covering took place...

The livestock complex had its head under water Wednesday with no positive futures prices across the board. Cash cattle traded mixed. Hogs fell significantly as the path of least resistance is down without fundamental support.

Live cattle futures closed mixed with some bull-spreading activity as traders wait for cash trade. Feeder cattle closed higher in response to lower corn prices. Hogs could not catch a break again Tuesday with futures closing lower...

One had to look far into the future to see any positive prices in the livestock complex. The rest of the contracts closed under pressure. Cattle traded the neutrality of the report last Friday, leaving futures struggling. Hogs...

Cattle futures were mixed at the close Friday as traders positioned ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Hogs closed mostly lower after rebounding significantly off the lows earlier in the trading session.

Cattle found some support due to the selling of futures subsiding. Live cattle futures now carry a discount to cash, which stopped the selling tide Thursday. Hogs fell completely apart, suffering heavy losses on what seemed to be...

Selling pressure increased in the livestock complex Wednesday. The financial markets have had a negative impact on livestock and the potential for demand impact. A few cattle traded yesterday at $1.00 lower, sending further...

The livestock complex could not find support Tuesday with all contracts closing in negative territory. Traders are not excited over the potential for cash cattle trade this week. Hog futures took back more of the gains of Monday...

Traders were not fond of steady cash developing for the week. Feeder cattle fell due to spillover from live cattle with pressure also coming from higher corn. Hogs had a banner day with triple-digit gains though the end of the...