London coffee futures closed around four percent higher on Thursday after breaking down resistance on a wave of fund buying and later support from New York, dealers said.
Spot July settled up $35 a tonne, or 4.2 percent, at $865 on 6,675 lots, having touched $879, its highest since mid-March 2003.
Second month September finished $30 up at $842 on 9,692 lots, a rise of 3.7 percent. Total turnover was a heavy 23,512 lots.
"The funds are tripping over buy-stops...when it broke $860 that induced more fund buying," a trader said.
Producers withdrew offers on expectations of further rises, fuelling the climb, he added.
"It looks like the origins have pulled back because it's very thin and it's finding pockets of resistance."
Another trader said roaster buying early in the session encouraged price rises.
The US market, which closes on Friday to mark the death of former President Ronald Reagan, also lifted as participants were reluctant to be short in futures before a three-day weekend amid fears of frost in Brazil - even though none has materialised so far.
"As always at this time of year, we're keeping one eye on the weather in Brazil," one London-based analyst said.
He said the London market's inverted structure * where front month contracts are more expensive than back months * raised the prospect of increased selling into London by producers.
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