Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks racked up gains across a wide array of sectors on Thursday, aided by rising commodity prices and improving labor market conditions, along with a sharp drop in interest rates.

But stocks faded late in the session as analysts said the recent pattern of light volume has made it difficult for the S&P 500 to close above the psychologically important 950 level.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 31.90 points, or 0.37 percent, to 8,770.92. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 5.74 points, or 0.61 percent, to 944.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 9.29 points, or 0.50 percent, to 1,862.37.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rallied for a third straight day and ended above $72 a barrel on Thursday, as the dollar dropped and economic recovery hopes rose on reassuring jobless benefit claims and retail sales
data.

Crude futures were in rally mode from the early going, after the Paris-based IEA earlier said 2009 oil demand will contract less than previously expected, easing worries about low consumption.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, July crude settled up $1.35, or 1.89 percent, at $72.68 a barrel, the highest close since Oct. 20's $74.25. It traded from $71.32 to $73.23, the highest intraday since Oct. 21's $75.69.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - July up 21 cents at $12.67 a bushel; November up 10-1/2 at $10.89-3/4.

Rallies to nine-month high on tight soy stocks, weak dollar and higher crude oil. Old-crop July/new-crop November spread stays volatile, with July nearing $2 premium.

CBOT-SOYOIL - July down 0.41 cent at 38.20 cents a pound.

Weakest leg of complex amid large U.S. soyoil stocks, with strong soymeal demand fueling meal/oil spreading.

FCPO-JAKARTA, June 11 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures closed lower on Thursday after crude oil, which sparked a midday rebound, retreated from its high in Asian hours, traders said.

The benchmark August contract on the Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange fell 16 ringgit, or 0.6 percent, to 2,485 ringgit ($708.99) per tonne, after going as high as 2,519 ringgit. Overall volume was 16,718 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, June 11 (Reuters) - Major Southeast Asian stock markets came off their early highs on Thursday, with losses in Raffles Education and DBS Group ending a 2-day rise in Singapore while Telkom and Astra International fell in Indonesia.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> fell 0.4 percent after a 2.5 percent gain over the past two days.Thai stocks <.JKSE> gained 0.4 percent, adding to a 4.1
percent rise over the past two days. Malaysia <.KLSE> added 0.6
percent, after a 1.04 percent rise on Wednesday.