Cattle futures closed mixed to higher Thursday, supported by the week’s higher cash fed cattle prices. Live Cattle futures were mixed, from an average of 50¢ lower to an average of 61¢ higher on likely profit taking. Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of $1.07 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light to moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Thursday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Based on the last established trade for the week, FOB live prices were $10 higher in the Southern Plains at $256/cwt., $11 higher in Nebraska at $257 and $9-$11 higher in the western Corn Belt at mostly $255-$257. Dressed delivered prices were $14 higher at $400.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.47 higher Thursday afternoon at $389.52/cwt. Select was $1.92 higher at $388.17.
Grain futures were lower Thursday with likely month-end profit taking and position squaring.
Kansas City HRW Wheat futures were 5¢ to 12¢ lower through May ‘27. Corn futures closed 1¢ to 3¢ lower through Sep ‘27. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 4¢ higher, except for fractionally lower to 1¢ lower in the front three contracts.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Thursday, buoyed by lower Crude Oil prices and positive quarterly corporate earnings reports.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 790 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 73 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 219 points.
West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed mixed, from $1.81 lower to 54¢ higher through the front six contracts.