Live cattle futures rallied on Wednesday, with contracts up $4.20 to $4.50 at the close. Open interest was up 829 contracts on Wednesday. Cash trade has yet to be reported so far this week. Wednesday morning’s Fed Cattle Exchange online auction showed no sales on the 1,224 head, with bids at $238. Feeder cattle futures posted midweek gains of $6.70 to $7.65 on Wednesday. OI was down 1,365 contracts on Wednesday, mainly in the front months. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was down another 66 cents to $368.93 on March 3.
Wholesale Boxed Beef prices were higher in the Wednesday afternoon report, with the Chc/Sel spread narrowing to $8.22. Choice boxes were up 52 cents to $388.57, while Select was $1.77 higher to $380.35. USDA estimated federally inspected cattle slaughter for Wednesday at 111,000 head, with the week to date total at 322,000 head. That is 2,000 head below the previous week and 22,566 head shy of the same week last year.
Apr 26 Live Cattle closed at $238.350, up $4.225,
Jun 26 Live Cattle closed at $235.175, up $4.500,
Aug 26 Live Cattle closed at $233.225, up $4.325,
Mar 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $363.925, up $6.725,
Apr 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $360.750, up $7.450,
May 26 Feeder Cattle closed at $357.000, up $7.650,
On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
