Arabica coffee edges higher after monday steep fall

* March arabica coffee was up 0.40 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $1.0305 per lb at 1154 GMT, consolidating after the prior session’s steep fall.

* Dealers continued to keep a close watch on the weather in top grower Brazil with the sharp fall on Monday linked to rains which diminished concern about dry weather.

* Some, however, suggested the threat of crops remained with the rains seen as insufficient.

* “Rains this week and during the 6-10 day are expected to be too light and scattered in nature to notably ease extensive dryness. This will maintain stress on (coffee) cherry growth across the region,” weather forecaster Radiant Solutions said in a report issued late on Monday.

* March robusta coffee was up $6, or 0.4 percent, at $1,514 a tonne.