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The article discusses strong demand on the part of hedge funds and other investors for exposure to cocoa, coffee, and cattle. Unlike many metals and agricultural commodities, these have not endured sharp price declines in 2014, and the time-consuming nature of producing more product protects them against rapid supply increases. During 2014 futures prices for arabica coffee, cocoa, and live cattle have risen 65%, 23%, and 16%, respectively.

The article discusses rising cocoa prices. During a week in September 2014 prices rose 6.3% amid concerns an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa could reach Ghana or the Ivory Coast, two leading suppliers of Cocoa. Futures strategist Hector Galvan says in a worst-case scenario coca exports from the Ivory Coast could be halted entirely. A cocoa embargo there in 2010-2011 drove prices to 32-year highs.

The article discusses rising cocoa prices. Increasing chocolate consumption in India and other developing countries has contributed to a 43% jump in cocoa futures prices for the 12 months ended July 8, 2014. Cocoa processor Cargill Inc. says demand for cocoa will soon exceed supply. Hershey Co. is among confectioners that have acted to bolster their presence in developing markets.

The article discusses rising demand for chocolate, notably in emerging markets, that is driving up prices for cocoa beans. Through February 13, 2014 cocoa prices had risen 9% for the year. The International Cocoa Organization predicts that demand for cocoa will exceed supply for several years. Information is presented on how confectioners such as Mars and Nestlé could adapt to rising cocoa prices.

The article discusses the impact on cocoa futures trading of a shift from pit trading to all-electronic trading in the aftermath of InterContinentalExchange Inc.'s 2007 purchase of the New York Board of Trade. Since then trading volume has declined, some market makers have discontinued operations, and price volatility has increased.

The article discusses whether speculation by hedge funds bears some responsibility for rising chocolate prices. Chief financial officer Ken Hanna of Cadbury PLC notes that investors as well as chocolate makers create demand for cocoa. On New York's Intercontinental Exchange the price of cocoa has risen more than 50% since the start of 2007.

The article focuses on premium chocolates and the techniques that chocolatiers are using to market and explain their products. The article discusses how many chocolatiers are including written materials in their chocolate boxes that explain the qualities of various chocolates and the best ways to eat specific chocolates. The article also mentions chocolates that Mars has introduced that contain flavanol, which the company claims can lower cholesterol.

The article reports on the increase in the global prices of cocoa in June 2015 due to the significant decline in Ghana's cocoa production caused by dry weather and the late application of pesticides and fungicides.

The article reports that price of cocoa has dropped 7.7% in March of 2015 due to an expected increase in supply from the Ivory Coast.

The article reports the declining global demand for cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate products, as of late January 2015 due to lower consumption by consumers and forecasts of slower growth in both developed and emerging markets.

The article discusses the impact of oversupply on the price sugar, as well as how concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus have impacted the price of cocoa.

The article discusses how the prices for commodities such as sugar, cocoa, and cotton have shifted due to expectations about global production in relation to global demand and concern that the spread of the Ebola virus throughout West Africa would impact production.

The article reports on movements in the price of sugar futures, discussing the impact of trends in sugar supply and consumption, and provides figures on the futures prices of other commodities including cocoa, coffee, and cotton.

The article reports prices for cocoa future contracts declined from a nearly three-year high on August 29, 2014 after the industry group International Cocoa Organization reported that cocoa farmers would harvest 10 percent more cocoa than they did in 2013, and talks about strong demand for cocoa.

The article discusses an increase in cocoa prices that, as of July 2014, has resulted in the chocolate and candy bar company Hershey Co.'s plans to increase the prices of some chocolate and candy bars such as Hershey's, Kit Kat, and Reese's candy bars.

The article reports that prices of cocoa commodity futures for delivery in March 2014 rose by 3.5 percent in response to increased demand from chocolate producers.

The article reports that prices for cocoa futures rose 0.5% on November 19, 2013, and notes that the International Cocoa Organization says demand for cocoa is expected to exceed supply during the 12 months that began October 1, 2013.

The article considers increases in commodity futures prices of cocoa in 2013, contrasting it with declining prices of other agricultural commodities and attributing it to increased demand for chocolate in Asia.

The article reports on the prices of commodities and commodity futures as of August 2013, focusing on cocoa.

News briefs on financial markets are presented including an increase in prices of cocoa commodity futures, an increase in coffee commodity futures prices and an increase in value of the yuan, China's national currency, in foreign exchange trading.

The article discusses declining prices for cocoa futures, said to be prompted by investors' concerns about ample supplies coupled with muted demand from Europe.

The article discusses declining prices for cocoa futures in December, 2012, due in part to shipments of cocoa beans from West Africa in volumes greater than expected.

The article reports on an increase in cocoa prices in November 2012 as investors prepare for a supply shortage after poor weather yielded a smaller crop than expected and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara dismissed his cabinet, creating political turmoil in the cocoa-producing country.

The article reports on rise of the cocoa futures to 4.9 percent as of October 19, 2012, due to a stronger demand than anticipated by investors and analysts.

The article reports that on July 27, 2012 the futures price for cocoa finished at a three-week high amid investor concerns about the impact on West Africa's cocoa crop of the El Niño weather pattern.

The article discusses a surge in the price of cocoa futures as of July 5, 2012, focusing on the impact of a hot and dry weather pattern on the cocoa-producing region of West Africa, including the Ivory Coast and Ghana, and their ability to produce cocoa for exporting.

The article states that prices for cocoa in New York City and London, England, markets increased during the first economic quarter of 2012 based on European cocoa grindings data.

The article discusses the potential health benefits of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, due to compounds called flavanols found in cocoa, and describes several products that contain high levels of cocoa including chocolate bars from Tripple Red Corp. and CocoaWell dietary supplements from Reserveage Organics LLC.

The article reports that the decision by the Ivory Coast to sell next season's cocoa crop in advance has impacted global commodities markets. Ivory Coast auctioned a portion of the 2012-2013 crop in an effort to establish fair returns for its cocoa growers who are responsible for producing over one-third of the world's cocoa.

The article looks at cocoa futures, noting that a price decrease in January 2012 based on dismal cocoa grindings data is unlikely to continue, and that prices are expected to increase despite economic troubles in Europe.

The article reports that futures prices for cocoa in both London, England and New York City gained 7% on January 9, 2012, due to desert winds that pose a hazard to the cocoa harvest in the Ivory Coast.

The article reports on the decision of IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE) not to allow shipments of cocoa with significant volumes of debris like dirt or bean shells, which will start with the contract for the March 2012 delivery.

The article focuses on the effect of the frosty pot rot on the supply of cocoa and cocoa futures prices.

The article reports that demand for cocoa in the first quarter of 2011 increased which reflected that food makers have adequate supplies.

Corrections to articles in previous issues are presented including one about "Times" managing editor Richard Stengel, another one about the population of Texas and the total weight of cocoa unloaded from the freighter Atlantic Tramp in Camden, New Jersey.

This article presents updates on commodities futures market such as the prediction that Easter candy will rise in prices as the United Nations bans the export of cocoa from Ivory Coast and the move by India to lift the ban on onion exports on February 17, 2011.

The article reports that chocolate users and buyers, such as Blommer Chocolate Co., Mars Inc. and Hershey Co., are opting for chocolate and cocoa certified by third-party organizations, including Fair Trade USA, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified.

The article reports on the move of commodities firm Armajaro to dispose of its stocks of cocoa due to falling world prices as of December 16, 2010.

The article reports on the potential decline in prices cocoa from the Ivory Coast after the slump in the commodity futures as the wet weather can reduce its production and civil crisis.

The article presents an update on commodity markets as of July 16, 2010, including the potential increase in prices of cocoa as outstanding contracts exceeded inventory and a surge in natural gas prices.

The article presents an update on issues related to the commodity markets as of April 2010, including the increase in prices of cocoa due to worries about a supply shortage and indications of rising demand another on the decision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to offer for sale 5.6 metric tons of gold into the open market over the last seven working days of February.

The article presents an update on commodity markets in the U.S. as of December 17, 2009. Prices of crude oil increased by almost 3%, settling at 72.66 dollars per barrel, as supplies of oil and fuel declined more than expected last week. Surges in cocoa futures were attributed to a weak dollar. Prices of rice dropped the daily exchange-imposed price limit of 50 cents per hundred pounds due to news that the government of India raised its projected crop size sown in summer by 2 million tons.

The article offers an update on commodities trading in the U.S. as of December 3, 2009. The price of natural gas for delivery in January declined by 7.1 cents to 4.459 dollars per million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). Gold futures increased due to the interest of investors in assets other than the dollar. The price of cocoa for December delivery surged to 3,378 dollars per metric ton.

The article announces that cocoa has rose to new 30-year highs on October 22, 2009 amid worries about a poor harvest in the Ivory Coast and expectations of rising demand from chocolate makers. Hershey Co. posted a 30 percent gain in earnings in the third quarter. Cadbury PLC reported a third-quarter sales increase of 7 percent.

The article reports on the commodities market in the U.S. as of October 2009. Light, sweet crude oil for December delivery closed at 81.37 dollars per barrel, marking a 2.8% increase on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures for December cocoa rose by nearly 30% to settle at 3,384 dollars a metric ton on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures U.S. December corn rose to 3.9825 dollars a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.

The article reports on the commodities market in the U.S. in 2009. Tightening of the U.S. oil supply led to the increase of crude-oil prices, with 4.7 percent on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas futures posted a gain of 0.7 percent. Cocoa prices at ICE Futures also went up, attributed to speculative buying.

The article reports that New York cocoa futures have reached a five-week high in the second-quarter of 2009. The North American cocoa-bean grind for the period dropped 6.75 percent, according to the National Confectioners Association. The trading performance of crude oil and natural gas futures is cited.

The article presents an update on prices of cocoa and other commodities in the U.S. as of May 2009. Prices of cocoa increased at midsession when the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) released its 2008-2009 forecast. The ICCO projected 2008-2009 global cocoa grindings will reach their lowest level as demand for chocolate and cocoa products declines due to the world economic recession. Prices of silver and wheat are also examined.

This section offers news briefs on the commodities market in the U.S. as of March 2009. Prices of crude-oil declined by 10 percent, settling at $40.15 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. According to OptionSellers.com founder James Cordier, the pessimistic economic outlook will continue to affect demand for cocoa since it is considered a luxury item. One factor that led to the decline in price of corn was selling by speculators.