By Keith Brown, DTN Contributing Cotton Analyst 

The cotton market closed higher Thursday on strong export-sales data, but kept an eye on the energies. To that end, the energy complex traded both sides of their Wednesday’s close as profit taking and top pickers entered the fray. It is being rumored Thursday that if Russia continues to deliberately attack civilians in Ukraine, resulting in massive casualties, then Russia’s energy exports could possibly be sanctioned by the West.

Friday morning, the Labor Department will issue its monthly jobs report. Last month non-farm jobs were 467,000; expectations call for 400,000 for Friday’s release.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran resume this week, with expectations that a deal might be reached. If the outcome is successful, then Iran would be allowed to pump its oil on the open market and possibly dent world crude prices.

There were no deliveries placed against the spot March contact, according to the ICE Exchange. The March cotton contract expires on March 9.

Thursday, March cotton settled at 123.55 cents, up 1.51 cents, July ended at 115.86 cents, up 0.78 cent and December finished at 101.5 cents, 0.77 cent higher; estimated volume was 26,958 contracts.