US MIDDAY: coffee advances on speculators buying

Benchmark arabica coffee futures rose about 1.9 percent on Wednesday, with speculators buying on prospects Hurricane Frances could harm coffee stocks stored in southern Florida, traders said.
Traders played down the need for major concern, however, as the latest forecasts showed Frances moving into Florida's Atlantic coast north of Miami, where more than 100,000 bags of coffee are stored.
On the New York Board of Trade, the most-active December coffee contract rose 1.35 cent to settle at 73.95 cents a lb., after moving within a trading range of 72.35 cents to 74.65 cents.
Spot September climbed 1.15 cent to 70.45 cents, after trading in a range of 69.80 cents to 70.70 cents. The rest of the contracts ended up 1.30 cents to 1.35 cents.