Arabica coffee futures fell to an one-month low as rain was forecast in Brazil

New YORK / London (Reuters)-ICE Arabica coffee futures fell to an one-month low on Thursday on forecasts of more much-needed rainfall in Brazil, the largest producer, and weighed down by a stronger dollar and technical selling pressure.

Cocoa futures consolidated upward, while raw sugar futures held steady.

ICE- December Arabica coffee futures closed down 2.00 cents, or 1.1%, at $1.8760 a pound, finding support at $1.8515 above the 200-day moving average after hitting a low of $1.8625 since Sept. 29.

There will be widespread rain in Brazil's drought-affected coffee and sugar cane belt this weekend, easing the hot weather, according to Somar, a local weather forecaster.

Traders said forecasts of continued rain in parts of the Brazilian coffee belt imposed by the dollar put pressure on Arabica coffee futures, with benchmark contracts attracting technical selling after falling below the 100-day moving average of $1.8910.

London International Financial Futures and options Exchange (LIFFE)-January Robusta coffee futures fell $5, or 0.2%, to close at $2037 a tonne.

ICE- December cocoa futures rose $9, or 0.3%, to $2946 a tonne, while Liffe- March futures closed up 18 pounds, or 1%, at 1912 pounds a tonne.

ICE- March raw sugar futures closed flat at 16.30 cents a pound. LIFFE- December sugar futures closed down $3.60, or 0.8%, at $427.60 a tonne.