Cattle futures mainly edged higher Wednesday, awaiting established weekly cash fed cattle trade.
Toward the close, Live Cattle futures were narrowly mixed, from an average of 15¢ lower in the front three contracts to an average of 15¢ higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of 59¢ higher, except for 35¢ lower in spot Nov.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade ranged from light on light demand to a standstill through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service. Although too few to trend, there were some early dressed delivered sales in Nebraska at $290/cwt.
Last week, FOB live prices were $3 lower in the Southern Plains at $187/cwt., $3-$4 lower in Nebraska at $186-$187 and $2-$5 lower in the western Corn Belt at $185-$188. Dressed delivered prices were $2-$4 lower in Nebraska at $294 and $4 lower in the western Corn Belt at $294.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $1.33 lower Wednesday afternoon at $306.94/cwt. Select was $1.26 lower at $278.66.
Grain and Soybean futures were lower Wednesday, with continued pressure from the stronger U.S. Dollar.
Toward the close and through Sep ’25 contracts, Corn futures were 2¢ to 3¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 5¢ to 6¢ lower. Soybean futures were mostly 2¢ to 4¢ lower.
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Major U.S. financial indices were narrowly mixed Wednesday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 47 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 1 point higher. The NASDAQ was down 50 points.
Through midafternoon, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures on the CME were mostly 30¢ to 34¢ lower through the front six contracts.