By M. Shankar and Catarina Saraiva Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Raw-sugar futures and refined-sugar contracts may rise this week as the U.S. dollar strengthens, according to a survey. Seven out of 11 traders, analysts and brokers surveyed last week forecast that raw sugar traded in New York would rise and four predicted a drop. Raw sugar gained 0.6 percent to 26.33 cents a pound last week. Eight of 11 respondents said white sugar traded in London would gain and three said the price would drop. White, or refined, sugar climbed 4.6 percent to $736 a metric ton last week. Six of 11 said refined sugar’s premium over raw sweetener would widen, four said it would narrow and one said the gap would be little changed. Bullish on raw sugar: 7 Bearish: 4 Neutral: 0 Bullish on refined sugar: 8 Bearish: 3 Neutral: 0 Widening refined premium: 6 Narrow: 4 Neutral: 1 To contact the reporters on this story: M. Shankar in London at mshankar@bloomberg.net; Catarina Saraiva in New York at asaraiva5@bloomberg.net.

Source