Plant…Plant…Plant continues to be the motto, but it is also time to add Price…Price…Price to the discussion.   The new crop December contract took a hit this week, but settled at week’s end above the trend line, thus keeping the uptrend in force.  The market faced an uphill battle all week, and actually lost some momentum, but came back at the end of the weekly trading period to post a close above the December trend line.  Thus, while the bul...

Exceptionally strong demand continues to underpin the bull’s hopes for higher prices while the bears are supported by the idea that market trading has become dull and listless in its attempts to break out above the highs established two weeks ago.  The market’s misunderstanding of tariffs and the resulting Wall Street attitude has also kept the market skittish.  The 82 cent plus level has provided excellent price support for both the May and July futures contracts as mills ...

Cotton captured the attention of commodity speculative funds all week as USDA reports were bullish to neutral and prices returned to the prior month’s highs, posted new highs, and triggered technical signals of yet higher prices.  However, we must caution that prices have moved only about a cent above where the market failed on its last leg up.  Presently, the fundamentals of supply and demand offer a brighter outlook than six weeks ago, but open interest, while increasing, has b...

Prices regrouped on the week with the nearby May trading to 81 cents and the July contract eased up to 82 cents.  World cotton consumptions continues to expand it wings as growth is now evident expected across all major continents. Speaking of wings, those feeding me crow can now finish the pie. At least mine has morphed into Old Crow.  Yes, it was scary for a couple of weeks.  The market advance is back on track as prices again trending higher.  The short term trend is up an...

ICE finally had an up to end the week, suggesting that the final leg of the downside move had ended and the three week downturn was basically over.  I had expected that a 76 cent bottom would catch the tail end of the move, but the March contract, moving into its expiry settled the week at 75.72, a few ticks below our 76 cent bottom.  With March index rolls completed and the National Cotton Council’s recognition that the world cotton industry has questioned the USDA India databas...

IMPRIMA S.p.A. has acquired  City Prints and sister company Premier Fabrics, both American companies specialised in printed textiles. Imprima, controlled by Wise SGR through the Italian private equity fund Wisequity, now strengthens its strategic positioning, consolidating its global presence as a leading player in the field of printing and textile finishing for international retailers and fashion brands. City Prints and Premier Fabrics, founded in 1997 and headquartered in New Yo...

Not since Van Lingel Mungo threw his last pitch for the Brooklyn Dodgers had the cotton market seen a curve as sharp as that thrown by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA in the February WASDE report.  As cotton sales and shipments zoomed higher USDA lowered its already industry lagging export estimate from 14.8 to 14.5 million bales.  For their reputation I hope they are correct and I am wrong.  For the U.S. cotton grower, I do hope they are incorrect. I am already very ...

Slice it, dice it or spice it, crow has a certain taste that only the few who have eaten it recognize its distinct flavor.  I thought I had gotten the taste out of my mouth earlier in the week, but it seems I will taste it all weekend.  If you are unsure whether I have received any, trust me, FEDEX has worn a path through my yard.  I am sure the postal employees will rut it out this weekend with Amazon deliveries.  So, what went wrong?  First, obviously my market analysi...

H&M (Sweden) will launch Afound, a marketplace that the company has dubbed a “style- and deal-hunting paradise” selling discounted fashion and lifestyle products. The retail concept will feature  both external and the H&M group’s own brands, offering a wide range of well-known, popular brands for both women and men, the company said in a statement.Afound will present a carefully selected, season-less range from Swedish and international brands in a variety of price...

“Here we go again, catch us if you can,” is a lyric from the 1965 hit song, Catch Us if You Can, and it reminds us of current trading in cotton as the market sulks back to 80 cents as it consolidates and prepares for its next charge toward 85 cents.  The breakout above 80 cents continues to build its base building in the very low 80’s as it prepares for the next challenge to break above the 85 cent level. Export sales and the textile mills affinity for kicking the price ma...