DTN Closing Livestock Comment 12/31 16:22

DTN Closing Livestock Comment 12/31 16:22 Cattle Futures Close 2015 With Follow-Through Buying For the most part, the cattle complex settled with another round of substantial gains with triple-digit progress dominating the feeder market. Lean hog futures also settled in the black, though the late-year progress was more moderate in light volume. By John Harrington DTN Livestock Analyst GENERAL COMMENTS: The cash cattle trade was not tested Thursday thanks to aggressive packer spending on Wednesday. Active trade volume at midweek allowed both buyers and sellers to adjourn early for the New Year's holiday. According to the closing report, the Iowa hog base closed $0.13 lower compared with the Prior Day settlement ($46.00-$50.75, weighted average $49.43). From Friday to Friday, livestock futures scored the following Changes: Dec LC, Up $4.70; Feb LC, Off $0.22; Jan FC, Up $3.43; Mar FC, Up $3.53, Feb LH, Up $1.50 Apr LH, Up $0.88. Corn futures closed fractionally lower pressured by demand worries and a general lack of constructive news. The stock market finished 2015 on a defensive note despite greater stability noted in oil. The Dow closed 178 points lower with the Nasdaq off 58.