US cocoa futures ended narrowly mixed in range-bound trading on Tuesday, while some cocoa exporters in cocoa-rich Ivory Coast began shutting their doors because farmers were set to resume a strike. Traders said activity on the New York Board of Trade (NYBOT) was muted and trading volumes thin, with many market players focusing on front-month contract switching.
NYBOT's most-active December cocoa finished steady at $1,453 a tonne, after dealing from $1,451 to $1,467. March 2005 picked up $1 to $1,473 and distant months were flat to $1 firmer.
Contract rollover between December and March will likely continue ahead of Nov. 15, the first notice day for December.