A recent retreat in the cattle markets is due to funds backing off long positions, according to analysts

Traders are closely watching the cattle markets after an interesting couple of weeks. One advisor says he has been watching the funds back off long positions.

“You’re seeing what I think is some exit by funds. They’ve been strongly long in the cattle, and it flipped over last week. You’ve had weaker cutout values as well, and they’ve taken a pretty good hit this week. So, the combination of the two puts the market in motion. It uncovers Sell-Stop orders, which are sales that aren’t necessarily intended, but they happen when you’re either exiting a long position or establishing a new short position. So, you get a combination of things, and that’s why sometimes the market moves really fast. It’s because you’ve got different angles all coming together at one point,” said Bryan Doherty.

Doherty says despite all of the action, he is not concerned in the long run.

“I’m not concerned that there’s going to be a whole bunch of shorts coming in on the big-picture perspective. From the near-term picture perspective, I am concerned that there’s technical weakness in front of the market and money flow, but from the supply side, they just aren’t there, and the cattle inventory report this last week confirmed that we’re down one percent from last year. When does this herd stop shrinking? That’s a good question.”

This month’s Cattle on Feed report showed the herd down a percent from this time last year.

Related Stories
NMPF’s Alan Bjerga discusses pending trade agreements with Indonesia and Ecuador and how they will benefit U.S. dairy producers and improve overall global competitiveness of U.S. ag products.
Spring Fieldwork Expands Amid Mixed Weather Nationwide
Vanessa Wood shares more about Ag Women Connect, the importance of uplifting women in agriculture, and upcoming projects designed to highlight stories across rural America.
Strong exports support cattle and hog market fundamentals.
Watch China’s demand signals for export direction.
Shaun Haney joined RFD News to discuss the potential impact of the Trump-Xi summit uncertainty, ongoing agricultural trade talks, and why geopolitical developments could carry important implications for farmers and global commodity markets.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

New Nebraska wildfires near containment, but damages still mount for ranchers across the region.
Widespread drought and extreme weather leave producers managing limited resources
Jose de Jesus explains the National Pork Board’s new campaign, “Taste What Pork Can Do,” which aims to build long-term engagement with Millennial and Gen-Z consumers.
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen highlights the legal challenges surrounding stray voltage, a recent court decision, and what it means for agricultural producers.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.