Arabica-Coffee Futures Aimed at Fresh Two-Month Highs

Arabica coffee rose Friday, continuing its latest rally, as

investors keep watch on the crop disease hitting plants in Central America.

Arabica coffee for March delivery on the ICE Futures U.S. exchange was

recently 0.8% higher at $1.5675 a pound.

Prices are aimed at the highest settlement since October, adding to a rally

that has coffee up 8.9% since the beginning of the year.

Traders are keeping close watch on roya, the coffee-plant disease that is

affecting El Salvador, Costa Rica and other coffee-producing regions of Central

America.

"There has been a lot of positive, bullish news from coffee," said Jimmy

Tintle, head of GreenKey Alternative Asset Services. "We've been in this small

upwards trend, and we're trying to keep pushing through."