Large commodity index funds, called managed money, reversed course in the week ended Tuesday and reduced their collective net short position, according to the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. During the week, commercial traders, those who own the cattle and primarily trade as hedgers, also reduced their collective … Read More

Covid-19 is hitting the beef supply chain hard, as evidenced by the huge spikes in the USDA’s boxed beef cutout values this week. Grocers are looking for supplies to fill their meat cases for upcoming features, driving prices higher.  And while few expect such price spikes to continue, it’s easy to see the effect consumer … Read More

As the zombies gather for the Covid-19 apocalypse, China already is returning to normal economic activity, and the extensive quarantines implemented in other countries may be about to slow the world-wide panic, said vaunted futures analyst and forecasting firm The Hightower Report. “Certainly the economic carnage is severe and is likely to expand, and that … Read More

The Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week showed that prices rose in February by 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in January. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.3% before being seasonally adjusted.  The all items index increased 2.3% for the 12 months … Read More

Large commodity index funds increased their collective net short live cattle position during the week ended last Tuesday, while hedgers cut their net short position. It’s very possible that those large commodity index funds, called managed money, continued to sell cattle short in the week since last Tuesday when the Commodity Futures Trading Commission cut … Read More

Following a record-breaking performance in 2019, US pork exports maintained a torrid pace in January, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation. January beef exports also were higher year-over-year, the USMEF said.   PORK EXPORTS COOL ONLY SLIGHTLY   January pork exports cooled slightly from the volume and … Read More

The weekly boxed beef cutout value of choice 600- to 900-pound carcasses is not behaving normally, although the weekly difference between USDA choice- and select-graded beef is moving along with seasonal norms. Blame it on nervousness over the economy brought on by jitters about the upcoming election, early fears of a stock-market setback after a … Read More