Large commodity investment funds, called managed money, extended their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday to its longest in 6 ½ months, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
At the same time, the data showed that commercial traders, those who own cattle and theoretically could make or take delivery of a futures contract, extended their collective net short cattle futures position to its largest in six months.
The data was made available in the CFTC’s weekly Commitments of Traders report on Friday.
Managed money’s new net long live cattle position Tuesday totaled 74,325 contracts, up 3,187, or 4.48%, from 71,138 a week earlier. It was their largest net long position since March 13 when it was 86,701 contracts.
Commercial traders’ new net short live cattle position Tuesday amounted to 146,181 contracts, up 2,412, or 1.68%, from 143,769 the previous week and their largest short position since March 27 when it was 150,778.
The CFTC said managed money got to its new net long live cattle position by adding 2,177 long positions, covering 2,010 short positions and placing 2,042 spread positions. This left them representing 28.7% of total long open interest and 5.6% of total short positions and 12.9% of total short positions.
Commercial traders arrived at their new net short position by adding 438 long positions and 2,850 short positions, leaving them in control of 10.4% of total long open interest and 55.2% of total short open interest.
The CME Group said total live cattle open interest Tuesday amounted to 324,776 contracts, up 5,207, or 1.63%, from 319,569 the previous week.
During the CFTC reporting week, the most-active Dec delivery contract moved lower to settle at $117.20 per cwt from the previous Tuesday’s $117.97 settling.
FUNDS GET LESS SHORT CORN
During the CFTC reporting week, managed money got less short with their corn position. The CFTC data showed their net short position to be 124,855 contracts, down 33,569, or 21.2%, from 158,424 the week previous.
As of Tuesday, the net short position of commercial traders was 197,247 contracts, up 32,473, or 19.7%, from 164,774 the previous Tuesday.
The CFTC said managed money got to its new corn position by adding 6,745 long positions, covering 26,824 short positions and unwinding 1,904 spread positions. This left them representing 14.4% of total long open interest, 21.7% of total short open interest and 10.4% of total spread open interest.
Commercials got to where they were by liquidating 7,414 long positions and adding 25,059 short positions, leaving them in control of 29.5% of total long open interest and 41.0% of total short open interest.
Total corn open interest Tuesday was 1.732 million contracts, up from 1.730 million a week earlier, a gain of 1,920, or 0.11% from a week earlier.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
No fed cattle sold Wednesday on the Livestock Exchange Video Auction, compared with 280 that traded five weeks previous at $109.50 per cwt.
Cash trading was reported last week at $110 to mostly $111, per cwt on a live basis and at $173 to $174 dressed, compared with the previous week’s range of $110.50 to $111 live and $170 to $175 dressed.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was down $0.83 per cwt at $203.88, while select was up $0.88 at $193.44. The choice/select spread narrowed to $10.44 from $12.50 with 55 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
The CME Feeder Cattle index for the seven days ended Thursday, was $156.89 per cwt, down $1.24. This compares with Friday’s Oct settlement of $158.17, up $0.32.