Cattle futures gapped higher Wednesday, supported by outside markets and perhaps some early positioning ahead of the monthly Cattle on Feed and semiannual Cattle inventory reports due out Friday.
Toward the close, Live cattle futures were an average of $2.25 higher. Feeder Cattle futures were an average of $4.39 higher.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on moderate demand in all major cattle feeding regions through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
Last week, FOB live prices were $230/cwt. in the Texas Panhandle, $230-$231 in Kansas and $240 in the North where dressed delivered prices were $380.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was $4.98 lower Wednesday afternoon at $367.52. Select was $2.55 lower at $345.39.
Grain futures were lower Wednesday with the improving weather outlook.
Toward the close and through away Jly contracts, Corn futures were fractionally lower to 1¢ lower. Kansas City Wheat futures were 8¢ to 9¢ lower. Soybean futures were 1¢ to 4¢ lower.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Wednesday, fueled by the announced U.S. trade deal with Japan.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 507 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 49 points higher. The NASDAQ was up 127 points.
Through midafternoon, West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) were 11¢ to 24¢ higher through the front six contracts.