CBOT futures closed about where they were at midday.  The news today was minimal and balanced with bearish outside markets with energy and precious metals lower.

  CME Cattle futures were lower again today, further correcting some of last week’s large gains. Choice UP 0.39 at 195.73; Select UP 0.93 at 175.73; the Choice-Select price spread has narrowed this week, now at $20.00/cwt.

  Lean Hog futures closed sharply higher as bullish momentum carries the market. The December contract closed above the April high, so the next resistance may be $86.00, but cash continues to lag the run in futures. The Pork Cutout jumped again today, gaining 74 cents to $84.71/cwt, up $3.00 from a week ago.

  US equities closed at the day’s highs after traders became optimistic that a “fiscal cliff” deal will be made.

Corn Dec unch 760; Mar unch 764; Dec’13 +2 640

Bean Jan -3 1446; Mar -2.5 1435; Nov -6 1305   Meal Dec +.6 440;  Oct -1 370   Oil -1 5011

Wheat Dec +3 876; Jly +5 887.5   KC +2 918; MGE +2 939

LC Dec -55 12782; Apr -57 13535; Jun -55 13137 FC Jan -85 14607; Apr -77 15055; Aug -35 15635

LH Dec +145 8382; Feb +85 8757; Jun +87 10107

Milk Dec +36 1926; Jan +40 1892

Oats -2 371

Rice +10 1519 

US$ -.1%

Dow +107 12985

SP +11 1410

NAS +24 2992

Tran +38 5115

VIX -.41 15.51

WTI -50 8668

Brent -22 10965

Gas -1 269

NG -8.5 381

HO steady 302

Eth +.5 243.5

Gold -22 1720

Slvr -24 3374

2-yr -.004 0.262% 5-yr -.016 0.630% 10yr -.008 1.630% 30yr +.011 2.800%