NEW YORK, Aug 30: US cotton futures closed modestly higher on Friday on buying ahead of a potentially damaging land strike by Hurricane Gustav boosted prices, but end-of-month profit takers, a strong dollar, and a slip in crude oil prices limited gains, brokers said.

US futures markets will be closed Monday for the Labour Day holiday.

Key December cotton futures ended with small gains of 0.42 cent at 69.78 cents a lb.

December’s contract range ran from 69.37 to 70.90 a lb.

After hours, December cotton stood 0.22 cent higher at 69.58 cents a lb.—Reuters