U.S. feeder cattle futures rose for a third straight session on Tuesday, drawing support from tight feeder cattle supplies and gains in live cattle futures.
Traders cited steady-to-higher cash feeder cattle values and weaker corn prices, which lowered the cost for feed.
"You have that reciprocal trade between corn and feeders (futures) and the tighter feeder cattle numbers," said U.S. Commodities analyst Jason Roose.
And Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle rose more than one per cent after October and November futures cleared technical levels, touching off fund buying.
Spot October closed 1.75 cents higher, or 1.21 per cent, at 146.1 cents per pound. It broke through the 20- and 40-day moving averages of 145.24 and 145.47 cents (all figures US$).
Most-actively traded November closed at 147.725 cents, up 2.175 cents or 1.49 per cent. It too moved beyond the 20- and 40-day moving average at 146.56 and 146.84 cents.
Live cattle climb
CME live cattle climbed, lifted by strong wholesale beef prices that fueled expectations for steady-to-higher cash cattle values, said analysts and traders.
They said some investors adjusted positions in advance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly cattle-on-feed report on Friday.
Analysts expect the data to show September placements fell about 15 per cent after feed costs spiked to record highs last summer following the worst drought in more than half a century.
Short-covering added to market advances, pushing October futures through the 40-day moving average of 124.81 cents. December broke through the 10- and 20-day moving averages of 126.17 and 126.41 cents, triggering fund buying.
Spot October closed up 1.4 cents per pound, or 1.13 per cent, to 125.55 cents. December ended at 126.675 cents, 0.7 cent higher or 0.56 per cent.
"Everybody is looking at these tighter cattle numbers and higher wholesale beef prices and anticipating stronger cash," said Roose.
The wholesale price for choice beef Tuesday morning was up $1.01 per hundredweight (cwt) to $194.97 and select cuts rose $1.62 to $180.51 from Monday, said USDA.
Packers have not bid for cattle and sellers have not priced their animals. Cash cattle last week moved at mostly $125/cwt.
Hogs steady to weak
December hog futures finished about steady with Monday's settlement, underpinned by its discount to recent cash prices while uncertainty about subsequent cash direction weighed on the contract.
"Cash is up in the air right now as packers keep an eye on their margins while hog supplies remain pretty hefty," a trader said.
Profit taking and spreads undercut February and deep- deferred trading months. Traders reversed bearish spreads with the view premiums in the 2013 contracts might be unwarranted as long as corn prices continue to struggle.
December closed up 0.05 cent/lb., or 0.06 per cent, to 78.6 cents. February ended down 0.15 cent, or 0.18 per cent, at 84.425 cents.
The estimated pork packer margin for Tuesday was positive $6.20 per head, compared with a positive $4.70 on Monday and positive $2.85 for Oct. 8, according to HedgersEdge.com.
-- Theopolis Waters writes for Reuters from Chicago.
