1458 EDT [Dow Jones]--ICE cotton futures posted slight losses Thursday,
though nearby prices remain not far from 15-year highs, as the market
consolidates ahead of key USDA crop production and supply/demand reports Friday
at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Traders are looking for another reduction to Pakistan's crop
that has been cut by devastating floods, further tightening global supplies.
Any changes linked to heavy rains in China and expectations for a large crop in
India will also be watched closely. Traders looking for a slight cut to the US
crop estimate. Volume is estimated at 10,832 contracts, with 5,017 calls and
4,357 put options traded. Most active Dec cotton lost 0.10 cent, or 0.11%, to
90.46 cents a pound. Thinly traded Oct lost 0.20 cent, or 0.22%, to 90.37.