Cattle futures defend technical support, and lean hogs revisit the upper end of the recent range.
Grain markets received friendly news in the most recent WASDE report but have failed to find any follow through momentum. A sign of caution?
Live Cattle (December)
December live cattle futures started the week with a weaker tone, but were able to defend support nearly to a T. We outlined the lower end of support as 182.82, the low was 182.80. The Bulls will want to defend this pocket through today’s trade, a revisit of this could spur a breakdown with the next downside objective coming in from 180.00-180.50.
Resistance: 186.60-187.675***, 189.47-190.075****
Pivot: 184.55-185.20
Support:182.82-183.325***, 180.00-180.50***
Daily Cattle and Beef Summary
Cutout values firmed on Monday with choice cuts .28 higher to 308.21 and select cuts 2.65 higher to 281.84. The 5-area average price for live steers was reported at 186.53. Friday’s slaughter was reported at 112k head, 12k less than the same day last year and 8k less than last week.
Seasonal Tendency Update
Below is a look at historical price averages for February futures on a 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 year time frames (Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results). The chart appears to show that the first half of November is a tough time for the market to stage a meaningful rally, but the back half can be more favorable. Whether or not that rings true this year is TBD.

Commitment of Traders Update
Friday’s Commitment of Traders report showed funds were net buyers of about 940 futures and options contracts, all but 6 contracts being short covering. This extended they weekly buying streak to 7 weeks (important to note this data is through November 5th and does not include the end of the week). Funds are now net long 101,453 contracts. That registers as the largest net long position since September of 2023.

Lean Hogs (February)
February lean hog futures were able to gravitate back higher yesterday, coming within a stone’s throw of new contract highs. With Funds positioned the way they are, our caution flags remain hoisted. That doesn’t mean the market can’t keep going higher, we just see it as there’s greater risk of a sharper move to the downside than upside.
Resistance: 86.22586.50**
Pivot: 83.97-84.30
Support: 82.05-82.27, 80.90-81.20*
Commitment of Traders
Friday’s Commitment of Traders report showed funds were net buyers of about 14k contracts. This puts Funds net long 121,069 contracts, a new record long.

Seasonal Tendency Update
Below is a look at historical price averages for February futures on a 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 year time frames (Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results).

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