Cocoa futures ended firmer on Wednesday, recouping recent losses as the prolonged conflict between presidential rivals in top grower Ivory Coast failed to be resolved as quickly as hoped. Tuesday's optimism for a near-term resumption of cocoa exports dimmed as forces loyal to presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara launched a heavy attack on the bunker where Laurent Gbagbo was defying efforts to force him to cede power.
-- Coffee and sugar markets weakened.
ICE July cocoa gained $21 to finish at $3,014 a tonne in above-average volume, with position rolling out of the spot contract boosting activity ahead of its first notice day April 15. May raws on ICE dropped 0.84 cent or 3 percent to finish at 26.71 cents per lb, as strong technical resistance at around 28 cents remained. Arabica coffee futures on ICE corrected lower after surging nearly 5 percent on heavy short-covering on Tuesday. May arabicas fell 3.10 cents or 1.2 percent to close at $2.6515 per lb.