Cotton futures experienced a varied trading session on Friday, with May contracts declining by 58 points while other months gained between 1 and 23 points. Despite this decline, the May contract saw an overall increase of 253 points throughout the week. In other commodities, crude oil futures rose by $1.44 per barrel, highlighting fluctuations in the market. The US dollar index also showed signs of weakness, dropping by $0.960 for the day, bringing it down to 99.645.
According to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) released on Friday, speculators in cotton futures and options reduced their net short positions by 10,943 contracts as of April 8, resulting in a total of 55,691 contracts.
Additionally, The Seam reported the sale of 1,207 cash bales on April 10, with an average selling price of 56.56 cents per pound. The Cotlook A Index saw a rebound of 100 points on Thursday, rising to 78.55 cents per pound. Meanwhile, ICE cotton inventories remained unchanged on April 10, with certified stocks holding steady at 14,488 bales. The USDA’s Adjusted World Price (AWP) fell by 212 points to reach 53.10 cents per pound.
In terms of specific contract closures:
– The May 2025 contract finished at 65.89, down 58 points.
– The July 2025 contract closed at 67.01, up by 1 point.
– The December 2025 contract ended at 68.51, with an increase of 23 points.
Traders continue to keep a close eye on these metrics as they assess the cotton market’s direction alongside other commodities. This selection of data points provides a comprehensive overview of the cotton futures landscape and current pricing trends that traders and investors should be aware of.
It is essential for stakeholders in the cotton industry to stay informed about market fluctuations and speculative activity, such as those reported by the CFTC. This can greatly influence trading decisions and price expectations moving forward.
