US coffee futures settled a shade higher Tuesday, with spread trading at the start of the new month putting a break to four consecutive sessions of price declines, market sources said.

The New York Board of Trade's active December arabica contract settled up 0.45 cent at 97.10 cents a lb, after trading from 96 cents to 97.75 cents. December's bottom trade was the weakest since Oct. 7 and about 8.8 percent lower than last week's peak of $1.0525 a lb.

Among other arabicas, March likewise edged up 0.45 cent to end at $1.0065 a lb, and back month contracts advanced 0.45 to 0.80 cents.

Copyright Reuters, 2005