LIVESTOCK-CME cattle dips on demand fears as stock market tumbles

CHICAGO, April 21 (Reuters) - Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures lost ground on Monday as a nosedive in the equities market spurred fears of lower consumer demand for beef, according to analysts.

CME June live cattle futures LCM25 settled down 0.325 cent at 203.750 cents per pound and May feeder cattle futures FCK25 ended 1.325 cents lower at 285.525 cents per pound.

On Monday U.S. President Donald Trump released a tirade on social media against U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a "major loser" and saying the U.S. could experience an economic downturn if interest rates are not lowered immediately.

Powell says more data is needed on the inflationary impact of Trump's tariff policies before interest rate cuts are made.

Trump's comments sparked fear on Wall Street as investors worried for the independence of the central bank's monetary policy and the possibility that the president could try to remove Powell before his term is over.

Profit-taking set in when the equities markets broke down, said Don Roose, president of U.S. Commodities.

And while tight supplies are still a factor in cattle futures, said Roose, "the demand side of the market, I think really won the battle at the end of the day on cattle."

In the beef market, choice cuts of boxed beef rose $2.00 to $333.52 per hundredweight (cwt) and select cuts rose $3.22 to $318.77 per cwt on Monday afternoon, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hog futures ended higher with greater seasonal pork consumption, said Roose. The Easter holiday brought ham season, he said. Meanwhile grilling season is on the horizon.

The USDA reported wholesale values for pork carcasses fell $0.61 to $96.39 per cwt and bellies fell $3.67 to $145.76 per cwt.

CME June lean hog futures LHM25 settled up 0.025 cent to 98.025 cents per pound.