OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2015. Sugar on ICE rose on Monday on short-covering and spread-related dealings linked to the March contract expiry, while cocoa firmed on chart-based buying, underpinned by worries over possible crop damage in parts of Ivory Coast and Ghana after the seasonal Harmattan wind.

Arabica coffee futures steadied in light volumes, supported by a softer dollar.

ICE March raw sugar futures traded up 0.17 cent, or 1.2 percent, at 14.68 cents per lb at 1209 GMT.

"Activity in sugar is dominated by spreading in the front months - rolling of positions with eyes on the coming expiry of the March contract," said Michael Liddiard of consultancy Agrilion, referring to the index fund roll.

The ICE March raw sugar contract expires on Feb. 27.

Speculators added to a bearish bet in raw sugar contracts on ICE Futures U.S. in the week ended Feb. 3, and they cut their bullish bet in cocoa to a 1-1/2 year low, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday.

Liddiard referred to talk of Chinese physical buying of Central American sugar, giving support to prices.

March white sugar futures traded up \\$3.00, or 0.8 percent, at \\$384.80 per tonne.

New York cocoa rose further away from last Monday's one-year low as concerns over West African supplies encouraged buying, traders said.

March New York cocoa on ICE was up \\$39, or 1.4 percent, at \\$2,814 a tonne.

May London cocoa futures traded up 17 pounds, or 0.9 percent, at 1,946 pounds a tonne.

"This morning, London cocoa prices extended gains towards the 40-day moving average of 1,946 pounds. Short-term indicators suggest the potential for modest gains," said Myrto Sokou, senior research analyst with Sucden Financial.

"Resistance holds near the key level of 2,000 pounds and January's high at 2,028 pounds."

Arabica coffee on ICE eased slightly on light chart-based selling, and was underpinned by forecasts for dry weather to resume this week in parts of Brazil following below-normal rainfall.

March arabica coffee futures traded down 1.35 cents, or 0.8 percent, at \\$1.6550 per lb.

May robusta coffee was down \\$3, or 0.15 percent, at \\$1,962 a tonne.