Fashion
ICE cotton firms as weaker US dollar & speculative buying lend support
The most active March 2026 cotton futures contract settled at 63.94 cents per pound, up 0.11 cents. The contract had fallen by 14 points on Friday. Other contracts gained between 10 and 16 points.
ICE cotton futures closed modestly higher, supported by a weaker US dollar, a rebound in US equities and fresh speculative buying.
The March 2026 contract settled at 63.94 cents per pound.
CFTC data showed reduced net short positions, signalling easing bearish sentiment, as export sales and shipments remained steady amid mixed broader commodity cues.
The US Dollar Index fell around 0.2 per cent, hovering near a three-month low, which improved the competitiveness of US cotton for overseas buyers.
Total trading volume stood at 28,223 contracts, down from 30,527 cleared on Friday. Average daily volume last week was 34,279 contracts, indicating relatively lighter participation.
Market participants said cotton appears to have formed a short-term low last week and is currently trading within a defined range.
Market analysts noted that speculative buying emerged after last week’s lows, adding that a stronger stock market and a weaker dollar could continue to support prices. US equities rebounded, although sentiment remained cautious amid concerns over AI-related investments and upcoming macroeconomic data gaps.
CFTC data for the week ended November 18 showed speculators reduced net short positions by 4,183 contracts to 71,478 contracts. The reduction in net shorts signals easing bearish bets and a shift towards cautious optimism in market sentiment.
USDA weekly export sales for the week ended November 20 totalled 157,700 bales (154,600 upland and 3,100 Pima), including 3,100 bales for the 2026–27 season. Shipments reached 127,500 bales, comprising 120,800 bales of upland and 6,700 bales of Pima cotton.
In the broader agricultural complex, CBOT soybean futures hit a seven-week low as traders unwound positions amid concerns over the pace of US exports. Expectations of a bumper soybean harvest in Brazil and broad agricultural market selling weighed on sentiment. Grains remained weak overall, while metals showed strength, reflecting mixed cross-commodity signals.
This morning (Indian Standard Time), ICE cotton for March 2026 was trading at 63.90 cents per pound (down 0.04 cent), cash cotton at 61.69 cents (up 0.11 cent), the May 2026 contract at 65.04 cents (down 0.02 cent), the July 2026 contract at 66.11 cents (up 0.01 cent), the October 2026 contract at 66.65 cents (up 0.10 cent) and the December 2026 contract at 67.70 cents (up 0.01 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded so far today.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Fashion
Australia’s Myer posts strong H1 FY26 sales growth, up 24.5% YoY
Operating gross profit surged 35.1 per cent to $886.0 million, while underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose 10.5 per cent to $112.8 million. Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 21.7 per cent to $51.7 million, with statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) up 32.8 per cent to $40.3 million.
Myer has reported strong H1 FY26 results, with total sales rising 24.5 per cent to $2,279.5 million and NPAT up 21.7 per cent to $51.7 million.
Growth was supported by Apparel Brands integration and strategic investments.
Loyalty members reached 5.1 million.
Early H2 FY26 sales rose 1.7 per cent, though the company remains cautious amid macroeconomic pressures and weak discretionary demand.
The company maintained strong financial discipline, with cost of doing business at 27.9 per cent of total sales, within its FY26 target of around 29 per cent. Myer also reported a robust net cash position of $287 million, reflecting strong cash conversion and balance sheet flexibility, Myer said in a press release.
Myer’s ongoing transformation strategy continued to gain traction during the period, particularly through its customer engagement and brand expansion initiatives. The relaunched Myer one loyalty programme reached a record 5.1 million active members, supported by enhanced personalisation driven by AI-led data modelling.
The company also strengthened its product portfolio, introducing new exclusive brands and securing partnerships with global names such as Fenty Beauty, La Mer, Gap, and Topshop.
“Our H1 result reflects momentum across our business as we continue to implement the Myer Group Growth Strategy. Sales growth was achieved both in store and online, and our disciplined cost management allowed us to make targeted investments including in e-commerce, marketing, product, merchandise and supply chain to deliver on our plan,” said Olivia Wirth, executive chair at Myer.
“We achieved our biggest Black Friday on record for Myer Retail, and total sales for the group through the important trading months of December and January were in line with last year—a good outcome that demonstrates the resilience of the business,” added Wirth.
The integration of Myer Apparel Brands progressed steadily, with the company targeting at least $30 million in annualised synergies, alongside an additional $10 million from integrating sass & bide, Marcs, and David Lawrence.
Operationally, Myer continued to optimise its store network, closing 22 stores and opening 12 during the period, while advancing its omni-channel capabilities. The company is set to launch an expanded Myer Marketplace platform in May 2026.
Supply chain efficiency also improved, with 32 per cent of online orders fulfilled through third-party logistics and distribution centres, compared to 13 per cent a year earlier.
In the first seven weeks of the second half (H2), total sales grew 1.7 per cent YoY, with Myer Retail sales up 2.2 per cent, driven by strong performance in home and kids categories.
Despite the positive momentum, the company remains cautious amid macroeconomic uncertainty and pressure on discretionary spending.
“Given the current volatility in the wider macroeconomic environment and the ongoing pressures on discretionary spending, we are more focused than ever on delivering value for our customers,” added Wirth.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Export demand lifts North India cotton yarn; local demand slow
Fashion
WTO launches 3rd phase of Enhanced Integrated Framework
EIF is a mechanism aimed at leveraging and coordinating support for trade and investment priorities in least-developed countries (LDCs).
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called for stronger partnerships to achieve the objectives of the Enhanced Integrated Framework’s (EIF) third phase, launched yesterday in Yaounde.
It aims to coordinate support for trade and investment priorities in LDCs.
The latest six-year phase has also secured fresh contribution pledges from Germany, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
The new phase was launched at a side event to the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaounde, Cameroon, co-organised by Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates and the EIF executive secretariat.
The third phase of the EIF introduces a shift from stand-alone projects to multi-year country programming. It is designed to help LDCs better integrate into the global trading system while addressing structural vulnerabilities and seizing new opportunities in areas such as digital trade, services, green value chains and regional integration.
The latest six-year phase also received new contribution pledges from Germany ($1.964 million), Liechtenstein (~$63,139), Norway ($4.15 million), Switzerland ($3.16 million) and the United Kingdom ($6.67 million).
“This third phase of the EIF comes at a defining moment for the LDCs and recently graduated countries. Familiar structural vulnerabilities are being compounded by a disrupted global trading system, power politics, debt pressures, climate change, and global economic uncertainty. At the same time, the current global context offers some important opportunities for LDCs to use trade to drive growth, development, and job creation,” Okonjo-Iweala said in a release issued by the WTO.
The DG also emphasised the need to scale up support and partnerships to match the ambition of the new phase.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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