London's robusta coffee futures ended higher on Wednesday, underpinned by fund buying as the market continued to worry about thin supplies from producing countries, traders said. Liffe's benchmark January contract ended up $5 at $1,055 a tonne after moving between $1,052 and $1,075 on volume of 5,925 lots.
"The market pushed up on a little bit of fund buying, and London wants to and might go higher, but it is being held back by New York's inability to make any headway on the upside," said one trader.
"On fundamentals, London is pretty firm amid concerns about tight supplies in Vietnam."
Brazil's coffee export market tightened further this week, strangled by the strength of the real against the dollar and short supply, traders said, adding they expected the trend to sharpen in coming months.
COCOA MIXED: London cocoa futures closed mixed on Wednesday after trading in a narrow range in a session dominated by Against Actuals (AAs) and spread activity, dealers said.
Front-month December settled down four pounds at 835 pounds per tonne in volume of 18,748 lots, having moved between 841 and 834 pounds.
March concluded up two pounds at 858 in volume of 19,860 lots after trading from 861 to 852 pounds.
SUGAR ENDS BOTH WAYS: London white sugar futures closed mixed in modest turnover on Wednesday, weighed down by speculative selling, traders said.
Front-month March settled down 60 cents at $309.80 per tonne in volume of 1,951 lots after moving from $311.00 to $307.40.
May concluded up 10 cents at $317.50 per tonne in volume of 130 lots, having traded from $317.50 to $315.40.