US MIDDAY: cocoa higher

US cocoa futures firm on early trade on Friday, in quiet dealings that found some support in the higher pound relative to the dollar, traders said. "There was size above the market offered, most likely origin hedging," one trader said, also noting light manufacturer buying.
In open-outcry, ICE March cocoa futures settled up $10 at $1,925 per tonne. The rest finished in a range from $6 to $20 higher. On the screen, the March contract was also up $10 at $1,925, at 12:41 pm EST (1741 GMT), with trades ranging from $1,906 to $1,929. The rest ranged from $5 to $25 stronger.