New York cotton falls to 11-month low
NEW YORK (August 05 2008): Cotton futures dropped to their lowest levels in nearly a year on Monday as investment funds continued to liquidate holdings in the wake of a broad-based sell-off in commodities. The key December cotton contract lost 2.76 cents by the close to finish at 69.13 cents per lb, its lowest settlement since September 7.
The session range ran from 69.04 to 72.38 cents. Volume traded in the December contract stood at 22,904 lots at 3:09 pm EDT (1909 GMT). Cotton market succumbed to broad-based selling pressure in the larger commodity complex, led by a sharp retreat in the price of crude oil. "There just seems to be an easy willingness of these funds to liquidate," said Keith Brown of Keith Brown and Co in Moultrie, Georgia.
"Cotton is so easily swayed by outside markets," Brown said. Cotton market fails to react to possible threats to the Texas crop from Tropical Storm Edouard. Edouard moved across the northern Gulf of Mexico on Monday and has a 20 percent chance of hitting the Texas-Louisiana coast as a hurricane, US forecasters said.
"Low winds and decent rain would be beneficial to the crop," added Brown. Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the August 12 release of the US Agriculture Department's monthly supply/demand report. The report will give the market a first detailed look at major crops like cotton in the 2008/09 marketing year (August/July).
Brokers Flanagan Trading Corp sees resistance in the December contract at 72.50 and 73.60 cents, with support at 69.35 cents. Volume traded on Friday reached 21,932 lots, exchange data showed. Open interest in the cotton market increased by 2,121 lots to 224,174 contracts open as of August 1, exchange data showed.
NEW YORK (August 05 2008): Cotton futures dropped to their lowest levels in nearly a year on Monday as investment funds continued to liquidate holdings in the wake of a broad-based sell-off in commodities. The key December cotton contract lost 2.76 cents by the close to finish at 69.13 cents per lb, its lowest settlement since September 7.
The session range ran from 69.04 to 72.38 cents. Volume traded in the December contract stood at 22,904 lots at 3:09 pm EDT (1909 GMT). Cotton market succumbed to broad-based selling pressure in the larger commodity complex, led by a sharp retreat in the price of crude oil. "There just seems to be an easy willingness of these funds to liquidate," said Keith Brown of Keith Brown and Co in Moultrie, Georgia.
"Cotton is so easily swayed by outside markets," Brown said. Cotton market fails to react to possible threats to the Texas crop from Tropical Storm Edouard. Edouard moved across the northern Gulf of Mexico on Monday and has a 20 percent chance of hitting the Texas-Louisiana coast as a hurricane, US forecasters said.
"Low winds and decent rain would be beneficial to the crop," added Brown. Looking ahead, all eyes will be on the August 12 release of the US Agriculture Department's monthly supply/demand report. The report will give the market a first detailed look at major crops like cotton in the 2008/09 marketing year (August/July).
Brokers Flanagan Trading Corp sees resistance in the December contract at 72.50 and 73.60 cents, with support at 69.35 cents. Volume traded on Friday reached 21,932 lots, exchange data showed. Open interest in the cotton market increased by 2,121 lots to 224,174 contracts open as of August 1, exchange data showed.