DTN Closing Livestock Comment 12/27 15:37

DTN Closing Livestock Comment 12/27 15:37 Livestock Futures Mixed in Sluggish Trade Activity Wednesday remained mixed in all markets with traders backing away from early support. This left contracts generally unsettled following early morning support. Traders may continue to find some late-week market firmness going into the New Year's weekend. By John Harrington DTN Livestock Analyst GENERAL COMMENTS Cash cattle activity remains at a standstill midweek with bids undeveloped. It is not unexpected that bids have been absent at this point in the week given that Monday was a holiday and overall trade through the week is expected to remain light. But a few token asking prices have been seen in the South with prices of $122 to $125 per hundredweight (cwt). It is likely going to be late Thursday or sometime Friday before active cash trade develops before another long holiday weekend. The Fed Cattle Exchange Auction on Wednesday listed a total of 637 head, with zero actually sold, 637 head listed as unsold, and zero head listed as PO (Passed Offer). The state-by-state breakdown looks like this: KS 160 total head, with zero head sold, 160 head unsold, zero head listed as PO; NE 266 total head, with zero head sold, 266 head unsold, and zero head listed as PO; TX 142 total head, with zero head sold, 142 head unsold, and zero head listed as PO; CO no cattle reported; IA no cattle reported; other states (OK) 69 total head, with zero head sold, 69 head unsold, and zero head listed as PO. The delivery date/weighted averages breakdown is as listed: 1-9 day delivery: 637 head total, zero head sold; 1-17 day delivery no cattle reported; 10-17 day delivery no cattle reported; 17-30 day delivery no cattle reported. According to the closing report, the national hog base is $0.65 lower compared with the Prior Day settlement ($53.00-$58.50) weighted average $57.29. The corn futures moved higher in light activity. March futures were 1 cent higher Wednesday. The Dow Jones Index is 15 points higher with the Nasdaq up 2 points.