London coffee prices ended up to $3 a tonne higher on Wednesday, although the absence of firm origin and speculative pressure left prices in a tight range, dealers said.
Volumes were thin and the market was likely to extend its sideways activity on Thursday, ahead of the Easter holiday that would keep the London exchange closed on Friday and Monday and the CSCE market on Friday.
Nearby options expires should contribute to keep the market volatile within a range.
Spreads contributed to boost an otherwise thin turnover as funds moved their positions out of May into further out contracts like July and September.
"We haven't seen almost any of the origin or speculative selling that we saw earlier in the week. We haven't even seen the amount of spread trading we saw yesterday and the market has been very quiet," a dealer said.
"A lot of areas have already started their Easter break, with some areas in Central and South America already on holiday and some people in Europe also away already."
Benchmark July closed $3 up at $747 a tonne, having moved 2,552 lots between $748 and $740.
May ended $2 higher at $727 on 2,897 lots out of total volume of 6,407.
COCOA DOWN: London cocoa hit a fresh 29-month continuation low on spread trading pressure and fund offers as buyers ignored the relatively weak prices and the sharp rise in German grindings, dealers said.
Thin industry scale-down buying built up as prices slid towards levels last seen in early November 2001 but it lacked the momentum to push the market into positive territory as funds and speculators eroded gains.
Front month May closed eight pounds lower at 811 pounds a tonne, having moved 5,465 lots between 825 and 792, which was a level last seen in November 2001.
July lost nine pounds at 816 on 5,253 lots out of a total volume of 16,561 lots.
The May/July spread accounted for a large part of the turnover, remaining broadly flat around a six pound discount.