Group 1 - Cotton futures closed the Wednesday session with contracts up 20 to 33 points on the day [1] - Crude oil futures increased by $1.63 per barrel, reaching $56.90 [1] - The US dollar index rose by $0.201 to 97.995 [1] Group 2 - Spec traders in cotton futures and options reduced their net short position by 2,212 contracts, bringing the total net short to 59,787 contracts as of December 2 [1] - The online auction from The Seam reported sales of 5,155 bales at an average price of 61.24 cents per pound [2] - The Cotlook A Index increased by 5 points to 73.90 cents on December 15 [2] Group 3 - ICE certified cotton stocks decreased by 78 bales, with the current certified stocks level at 12,396 bales [2] - The Adjusted World Price was updated to 50.39 cents per pound last week, with another update scheduled for Thursday [2] - March 26 Cotton closed at 63.43, up 33 points; May 26 Cotton closed at 64.53, up 27 points; July 26 Cotton closed at 65.58, up 20 points [2]