Large commodity index firms, known as managed money, trimmed their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers pared their total net short position.
MANAGED MONEY SELLS CATTLE
Tuesday, managed money had a collective net long live cattle position of 43,777 contracts, down 545, or 1.23%, from 44,322 a week earlier.
At the same time, hedgers, better known as commercial traders, had a total net short live cattle position of 78,571 contracts, down 2,316, or 2.86%, from 80,887 a week earlier.
The CFTC said managed money arrived at their new cattle position by liquidating 167 long positions, adding 378 short positions and putting on 1,887 more spread positions. This left them with 21.7% of total long open interest, 7.8% of total short open interest and 17.2% of total spread open interest.
Commercials got to where they were by liquidating 1,709 long positions and covering 4,025 short positions, leaving them with 13.4% of total long open interest and 39.8% of total short open interest.
The CFTC said total live cattle open interest Tuesday was 297,508 contracts, up 1,447, or 0.49%, from 296,061 a week earlier.
CME Group data showed the most-active Dec contract rose in value during the CFTC-reporting week to settle Tuesday at $179.85 per cwt, up $3.43, or 1.94%, from $176.42 a week earlier.
MANAGED MONEY BUYS MORE CORN
Tuesday, managed money had a collective net short Chicago corn position of 144,037 contracts, down 2,558, or 5.16%, from 146,595 a week earlier. It was their fourth straight week of covering short positions.
Commercials Tuesday had a total net short position of 126,938 contracts, down 7,068, or 5.27%, from 134,006 a week earlier.
Managed money got to where it was by adding 6,792 long positions, 4,234 short positions and 25,889 spread positions. This left them with 14.8% of total long open interest, 25.0% of total short open interest and 16.0% of total spread open interest.
Commercials got to where they were by adding 9,659 long positions and 2,591 short positions, leaving them in charge of 24.1% of total long open interest and 33.0% of total short open interest.
The CFTC said total corn open interest Tuesday was 1.422 million contracts, up 61,848, or 4.55%, from 1.360 million a week earlier.
CME Group data showed the most-active Dec contract rose in value during the CFTC-reporting week to settle Tuesday at $4.12 ½ a bushel, up $0.08 ¼, or 2.04%, from $4.04 ¼ a week earlier.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers last week ranged from $181.00 per cwt to $183.02, compared with the previous week’s range of $179.95 to $184.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $284.25 per cwt to $290.12, compared with $283.90 to $289.32.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was up $0.63 per cwt at $300.19 while select was up $0.33 at $288.59. The choice/select spread widened to $11.60 from $11.30 with 99 loads of fabricated product and 33 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The weighted average USDA listed wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $300.54 per cwt, and 50% beef was $95.03.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.35 to $1.47 a bushel over the Dec corn contract, which settled at $4.01 3/4 a bushel, down $0.04.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Thursday was $243.26 per cwt, down $1.16. This compares with Friday’s Sep contract settlement of $244.82, down $0.45.