DTN Closing Livestock Comments         09/09 16:35
   Lean Hogs Extend Post Holiday Rally

   Lean hog futures landed another session of decent progress supported by fund
buying and greater packer spending in the country. The cattle complex settled
lower with feeders losing more ground than their live counterparts.

By John Harrington
DTN Livestock Analyst

 GENERAL COMMENTS:

   Besides a few scattered sales of $97.50 in Kansas and $152-154 in parts of
the North, the cash cattle market was generally quiet on the heels of
yesterday's big trade. According to the closing report, the Iowa hog base was
$2.85 higher compared with the prior day settlement ($72.00-84.99, weighted
average $83.20). Corn futures jumped generally 7-8 cents higher thanks to
bullish-minded positioning before late week reports. The stock market was
further cheered after the Labor Department said first-time claims for
unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in two months. In
another hopeful sign on the economy, the trade deficit narrowed in July. The
Dow finished 28 points in the black with the Nasdaq gaining 7.