Large commodity index investment firms, known as managed money, reduced their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday while hedgers trimmed their total net short position.
The data came from Friday’s weekly Commitments of Traders report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
MANAGED MONEY SELLS CATTLE
As of Tuesday, managed money had a collective net long live cattle position totaling 53,071 contracts, down 3,571, or 6.30%, from 56,642 a week earlier. It was their second straight week of declining open interest.
At the same time, hedgers, or commercial traders, since they deal in the cash market and hedge their risk in the futures market, had a total net short position of 91,083 contracts, down 1,976, or 2.12%, from 93,059 a week earlier. It also was their second week of declines.
The CFTC said managed money arrived at their new cattle position by liquidating 4,888 long positions, covering 1,317 short positions and unwinding 2,929 spread positions. This left them with 26.5% of total long open interest, 7.2% of total short open interest and 12.3% of total spread open interest.
Commercial traders got to where they were Tuesday by liquidating 1,484 long positions and covering 3,460 short positions, leaving them with 15.0% of total long open interest and 48.1% of total short open interest.
The CFTC also said total live cattle open interest Tuesday was 275,500 contracts, down 13,356, or 4.62%, from 288,856 a week earlier.
CME Group data showed that the most-active Aug contract rose in value during the CFTC-reporting week to settle Tuesday at $178.92 per cwt, compared with $178.45 a week earlier.
FUNDS SELL MORE CORN
As of Tuesday, managed money had a collective net short Chicago corn position of 219,992 contracts, up 384, or 0.17%, from 219,608 a week earlier.
Commercials had a total net short corn position of 99,296 contracts, up 20,787, or 26.5%, from 78,509 a week earlier.
The CFTC said managed money arrived at their new position by adding 3,193 long positions and 3,577 short positions while unwinding 24,717 spread positions. This left them holding 12.7% of total long open interest, 26.4% of total short open interest and 15.0% of total spread open interest.
Commercials got to where they were by adding 4,773 long positions and 25.560 short positions, leaving them with 25.3% of total long open interest and 31.5% of total short open interest.
The CFTC said total corn open interest Tuesday was 1.600 million contracts, down from 1.636 million a week earlier.
The most-active Jul contract settled at $4.49 ½ a bushel, versus $$4.42 ½ a week earlier.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers last week ranged from $185.00 per cwt to $190.99, compared with the previous week’s range of $186.00 to $191.52 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $291.77 per cwt to $297.58, compared with $291.58 to $299.90.
The USDA choice cutout Friday was up $1.58 per cwt at $319.89 while select was up $4.56 at $303.81. The choice/select spread narrowed to $16.08 from $19.06 with 80 loads of fabricated product and 20 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The weighted average USDA listed wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $361.25 per cwt, and 50% beef was $86.62.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.46 to $1.56 a bushel over the Jul corn contract, which settled at $4.50 a bushel, down $0.08 1/2.
No delivery intentions were posted Friday for the Jun live cattle futures contract.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Thursday was $256.13 per cwt, up $0.27. This compares with Friday’s Aug contract settlement of $261.97, up $4.50.