US hog futures climb following cash markets - CME
Cattle futures inch higher
21 July 2022
2 minute read
By: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures closed higher on Wednesday, supported by firm cash markets tied to tight supplies of hogs, reported Reuters, citing traders.
Hot weather in the US midsection added support, posing potential disruptions to the transport of animals.
CME August lean hog futures settled 2.050 cents higher at 114.875 cents per lb and most-active October hogs ended 1.525 cents higher at 96.025 cents.
The CME Lean Hog Index, a two-day weighted average of cash hog prices, rose to $115.91 per hundredweight (cwt), its highest level since June 2021.
"Cash hog markets are still strong. Supplies are seasonally tight right now," said Doug Houghton, analyst at Brock Capital Management. "Until the cash market shows that it has tapped out, the August (hog) futures are going to follow the cash index," he added.
Wholesale pork prices retreated slightly but stayed near an 11-month peak. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday quoted the US pork carcass cutout value at $124.37 per cwt, down from Tuesday's $125.12, the highest since 13 August 2021.
Meanwhile, cattle futures inched higher in lackluster trade as brokers waited for activity to pick up in cash markets for fat cattle.
CME August live cattle futures settled 0.025 cent higher at 135.750 cents per lb and most-active October ended 0.225 cent higher at 141.325 cents. CME August feeder cattle futures fell 0.925 cent to finish at 177.825 cents per lb, pressured by profit-taking after recent advances.
Wholesale beef prices paused after a run-up to three-month highs a day earlier. Choice cuts of boxed beef fell by $2.04 on Wednesday to $270.53 per hundredweight, according to the USDA, and select cuts were down $1.48 at $242.25 per cwt.
Traders await Friday's monthly USDA Cattle on Feed report. Analysts surveyed by Reuters on average expect the government to report the number of cattle placed in feedlots during June at 1.586 million head, down 5% from a year earlier.
However, analysts on average put the total number of US cattle on feed as of 1 June at 11.301 million head, 100.1% of a year ago. June marketings were seen at 101.9% of a year ago.
