Raw sugar futures settled marginally firmer Tuesday on modest speculative buying as the market is seen consolidating in a band after rallying last week to near a 4-1/2 year high, traders said. The New York Board of Trade's active October sugar contract rose 0.02 cent to conclude at 9.50 cents a lb, ranging between 9.43 and 9.54 cents.
March added 0.05 to 9.60 cents. The rest went up 0.02 to 0.07 cent. Judy Ganes of commodity firm J. Ganes Consulting said the recent surge in sweetener values seems overdone although speculators kept up attempts to drive sugar ever higher.