What are pork bellies? I hear this on the stock market all the time.
Pork bellies are the hunks of the pig that are used to make bacon. They are traded on the commodities market (not the stock market) along with such things as orange juice, gold and oil. I assume they are either a) a very widely traded commodity or b) a very good indicator of livestock prices as a whole, so their price is widely reported.
I know this will sound silly, but I highly recommend the Eddie Murphy/Dan Ackroyd comedy “Trading Places” for a pretty good basic explanation of how the commodities market works. Murphy’s reaction during the explanation is worth the price of the rental.
This little piggy went to market…
I must admit that kunilou read my mind! That movie was the first thing I thought of.
Of course, sow belly is how I’ve always heard it referred to, as if boar bellies were for something else.
And fat back seems to be gender-free.
I don’t know what the standard futures contract specifies, but menus frequently specify that the pork is from a female. The meat from male pigs is said to have a “pissy” odour and taste.
I always wondered if they actually did trade orange juice futures like they did in “Trading Spaces”.
Now I know!
MtM
Yep, the secret in the Orange Juice market is to Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate.
That being said, pork bellies are to pig what a side of beef is to a cow.
And no, if you scew up they don’t deliver them to your door.