Also pork bellies settled lower while live and feeder cattle posted gains.

CME hogs spiked on the open spurred by short covering, but quickly turned lower as buying evaporated and key moving average resistance barriers repelled February.

Also, February's bearish premium to CME's hog index took on greater importance as spot-December prepared for its 1 p.m. EST expiration, which made nearby-February appear more expensive.

Pork contracts bled lower, but not without picking up scale-down buyers at first-level 60.50-cent psychological support. Futures continued their downward trek after midday direct cash hog prices reinforced suspicions that packers have supply needs met into early next week.

And, February hogs drifted lower until they rested on secondary-psychological support around 60.00. Speculative buyers contend that February is under-valued compared with last year's board price and there are still murmurs that China may again at some point show interest in U.S. pork.