London white sugar futures ended stronger on Friday after technical signals pulled in fund buyers and took the market to the highest level in more than two weeks, floor sources said. March settled up $3.1, or 1.2 percent, at $254.4 a tonne following a high of $258 - a price not seen since December 7. The day's low was the opening level of 251.
May advanced by $2.1 to finish at $264.5 a tonne after shifting 703 lots in a $263.6-267 range.
"It's fund buying and trade and producer selling. Initially there was probably some speculator selling too," a dealer said.
A total of 6,837 lots traded with March turning over 5,870 lots and May shifting 703 lots.
The London sugar market closed at mid-session and will re-open on December 29.
Iran said it does not need to import sugar before March 2005 so long as money is set aside to buy domestic production, which is more expensive than imports, Fars new agency reported on Friday.
Liffe's sugar market will resume trading on December 29.