The Daily Close · Thursday 22 October 2026

The board firms as the cellar cooperates

Closing assessment from the Department of Cultured Assets. Published at 20:00 UTC.

CT30 2,966.33 ▲ 0.43%

The floor opened cautiously and found its nerve before lunch. The Cheddar 30 closed up 0.43% at 2,966.33. Gouda led the board with a gain of 6.03%, while Slice composite fell 4.17% and finished the session at 191.75 curds.

The 11:00 cellar inspection found irregular moisture in hard inventories. The inspectors declined to elaborate and left through the side door. At 15:00 the fondue desk lowered its temperature target, a decision the committee described as neither hard nor soft. Smoked finished as the strongest sector at +2.70%, with washed-rind the weakest at -1.83%. The brine settlement window at 17:30 weighed on washed-rind names into the close.

The outlook depends on aging conditions and on whether the lunch committee returns on time. We continue to rate the broad board Melt and remain constructive on Gouda. Cracker coverage is adequate. The strategic biscuit reserve was not touched.