Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 17, On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live and feeder cattle futures closed higher, driven by stable boxed beef prices and a recovering equities market. June live cattle futures rose 0.725 cents, settling at 199.8 cents per pound, while May feeder cattle futures gained 1.575 cents, ending at 282.525 cents per pound.

Altin Kalo, an economist at Steiner Group, commented: “It’s a matter of the market finding more stability after a week of a lot of volatility that was tied to outside markets.” Support for the equities market came from positive bank earnings and discussions around potential adjustments to auto tariffs, which contributed to a favorable environment for cattle futures. Steady U.S. government bonds and a stable dollar further bolstered market confidence.

In the beef sector, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that choice boxed beef prices dropped slightly by 20 cents to $335.43 per hundredweight (cwt), and select cuts fell 61 cents to $315.24 per cwt on Tuesday afternoon. Despite these minor declines, the beef market remained relatively firm, supporting cattle futures.

Analysts noted a seasonal increase in meat demand, likely due to retailers preparing for the grilling season, which added upward pressure on prices. Additionally, short covering ahead of the USDA’s cattle on feed report, scheduled for Thursday, contributed to the price rebound. The report is expected to show U.S. cattle on feed as of April 1, 2025, down 1.8% compared to the previous year.

CME June lean hog futures also saw a modest increase, settling up 0.05 cent at 95.175 cents per pound, supported by the stabilizing equities market. However, USDA data indicated a decline in pork carcass prices, which fell $1.05 to $91.73 per cwt from Monday.

The combination of steady market conditions, seasonal demand, and anticipation of upcoming USDA data has supported the upward movement in both cattle and hog futures, reflecting a stabilizing agricultural commodities market.