By Kelsey Gee 
 

CHICAGO--U.S. cattle futures are climbing Thursday, recovering sharp losses from earlier in the week, as traders rethink bets on weakening demand in the weeks ahead.

Wholesale-beef prices have edged narrowly lower in the past week, a potential sign of weaker end-user demand. However, after futures slid to the lowest levels in 15 months on Wednesday, analysts suspect bargain buying is likely to give demand a boost, buoying futures on Thursday.

October cattle futures recently advanced 1.125 cents, or 0.8%, to $1.4235 a pound at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Feeder-cattle futures for September recently picked up 1.1 cents to $2.0185 a pound.

The hog market, meanwhile, is little changed after rallying during the previous sessions. October hog futures was recently flat with Wednesday's closing price at 69.775 cents a pound. December futures are down 0.15 cent at 64.525 cents a pound.

Write to Kelsey Gee at kelsey.gee@wsj.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 03, 2015 10:16 ET (14:16 GMT)