Cattle futures strengthened Tuesday, perhaps with renewed focus on tightening supplies.
Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were an average of $2.11 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $2.68 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was inactive on light demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Tuesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, FOB live prices were $256-$258/cwt., in Kansas and $256 elsewhere. Dressed delivered prices were mainly $405.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 70¢ higher Tuesday afternoon at $392.90/cwt. Select was $1.16 lower at $376.93.
Grain and Soybean futures were mixed Tuesday with likely positioning ahead of Thursday’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
Toward the close, and through near Mar contracts, Corn futures were 1¢ lower to 1¢ higher. Soybean futures were mostly 1¢ to 5¢ lower. Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were fractionally higher to 1¢ higher.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed mixed Tuesday with most of the pressure from tech stocks.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 86 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 19 points lower. The NASDAQ was down 250 points.
Through mid-afternoon, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) were $1.39 to $3.02 lower through the front six contracts.