Live cattle futures closed with Monday session with contracts 72 cents to $2.17 higher across the board, though most contracts were nearly $2 off the intraday highs. Open interest suggested new buying, up 1,134 contracts. Cash trade was slow last week, sales creeping up to $258-260 across the country. Feeder cattle futures were $2.77 to $4.35 lower at the close. OI rose 2,067 contracts, implying new buying interest. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was up $1.88 on June 19 to $370.56.
The weekly NASS Crop Progress report showed the US pasture rating at 33% gd/ex, up 1% from the week prior. The Brugler500 index was up 6 points to 286.
