An atypical week due to several factors

It is difficult to establish market prices during this atypical week, both because it was short (due to two Easter holidays) and because of the changes to the exchange rate regime that took effect Monday. According to two livestock consignors, the exchange shift seemed less relevant to price firmness than market fundamentals: “I think we need to wait, but prices are independent of the new measures: the issue is that there’s no fat cattle available,” said one livestock brokerage. Another agreed, noting: “Prices haven’t changed much from last week. There does seem to be a rebound in cow prices, which I believe is due to stronger demand from China and some improvement in the exchange rate.”