DTN Early Word Opening Livestock 04/30 06:21

DTN Early Word Opening Livestock 04/30 06:21 Price Stability Sought at End of Month Sluggish trade volume is expected on the last trading day of April as traders continue to focus on recent pressure, but overall lack of seller momentum as traders square positions. By Rick Kment DTN Analyst Cattle: Steady Futures: Mixed Live Equiv $151.61 -0.44* Hogs: Lower Futures: Lower Lean Equiv $ 90.00 +0.72** * based on formula estimating live cattle equivalent of gross packer revenue ** based on formula estimating lean hog equivalent of gross packer revenue GENERAL COMMENTS: Cash cattle interest is expected to be limited with bids and asking prices likely unavailable through the first half of the day. This will limit any trade in all areas of cattle country until after the first of the month. With the development of Wednesday trade in the South becoming a more regular habit, it is likely that bids will either develop late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Asking prices are hard to pin down, and may remain that way through most of Tuesday, but cattle are expected to be priced near $130 live and $212 dressed. Futures activity is also likely to remain sluggish with mixed trade holding following the limited moves Monday in live cattle trade. The continued pressure in feeder cattle markets is allowing for some uncertainty concerning long-term supply levels that could further impact buyer interest in all cattle futures.