US cocoa futures finished at a 24-year high early on Tuesday, after light fund buying triggered a flurry of buy stops, and on support from continued March/May spreads, traders said.
On the floor, the ICE benchmark May cocoa futures contract closed up $37, or 1.5 percent, at $2,455 per tonne, the loftiest settlement for the second month since mid-1984 on a monthly continuation chart. The rest closed up from $35 to $66.
On the screen, the key May contract was up $47 at $2,465 by 1:12 pm EST (1812 GMT), in wide dealings from $2,420 to $2,499. The rest ranged from $25 to $66 higher.