By Theopolis Waters
CHICAGO, Sept 24 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs posted modest losses on Wednesday amid uncertainty regarding near-term prices for slaughter-ready or cash hogs, traders said.
October hogs closed 0.425 cent per pound lower at 107.450 cents, and December at 95.200 cents, down 0.050 cent.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wednesday morning direct cash hog prices were unavailable. Hogs in the Midwest traded steady to mixed, according regional hog dealers.
While some processors were buying hogs for this week’s slaughter schedule, others were snug with inventories into early next week, they said.
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“Packers might put 50 cents (per hundredweight) on cash prices today and take it back tomorrow,” an Ohio hog dealer said.
Investors have been watching hog weights for signs that cooler fall temperatures could usher in a seasonal upswing in supplies.
From Monday to Wednesday, packers processed 1.252 million hogs, 20,000 more than last week, based on USDA data.
Cash hog price jitters caused investors to sell the October contract and buy back months in a trading strategy known as bear spreads.
Some traders adjusted positions ahead of Friday’s government quarterly hog report. The data will likely show the pig virus impact and whether low-cost corn stirred herd expansion.
MIXED LIVE CATTLE SETTLEMENT
CME live cattle closed narrowly mixed, featuring bear spreads in anticipation of steady or lower prices for market-ready or cash cattle this week, traders said.
October live cattle finished down 0.125 cent per lb. to 155.325 cents, and December up 0.050 cent to 158.775 cents.
Despite talk that some packers need cattle, processors are wrestling with slumping margins and sluggish demand for beef at wholesale.
Last week, cash cattle in the U.S. Plains sold at mostly $159 to $160 per hundredweight (cwt.), feedlot sources said.
Wednesday’s beef packer margins were a negative $88.50 per head, compared with a negative $64.30 on Tuesday and a negative $55.25 a week ago, according to Colorado-based analytics firm Hedgersedge.com.
Wednesday morning’s choice wholesale beef price dipped 19 cents per cwt. from Tuesday to $238.98. Select declined 24 cents to $227.05, USDA said.
The seasonal retreat in beef demand comes as grocers turn to pork for National Pork Month in October and hams and turkeys for winter holiday advertisements, traders and analysts said.
Speculators bought deferred contracts in anticipation of tight overall cattle numbers during that period.
CME feeder cattle futures reached a new high on buy stops and moderately higher back-month live cattle contracts.
September feeder cattle, which will expire on Sept. 25, closed up 0.175 cent per lb, to 231.075 cents, and October 0.250 cent higher at 230.400 cents.
