The S&P 500 index has risen almost 14 percent since September on speculation of Republican congressional gains and new measures by the Federal Reserve to stimulate the economy.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 64.10 points, or 0.58 percent, at 11,188.72. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 9.19 points, or 0.78 percent, at 1,193.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 28.68 points, or 1.14 percent, at 2,533.52.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended higher on Tuesday, hitting the highest level in six months, as the dollar fell ahead of an expected action by the Federal Reserve to inject more money into the flagging economy.
Qatar said oil prices in the $70-$90 range would be reasonable, echoing similar comments from Saudi Arabia on Monday, and that also helped push crude prices higher.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, December crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Tuesday.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - November
CBOT-SOYOIL - December
FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures eased from a 27-month high on Tuesday on some profit-taking although concerns over a strong monsoon season hitting yields lingered.
A weaker U.S. dollar against a basket of currencies limited losses in palm oil that is priced in the greenback, making the commodity cheaper. Higher U.S. crude oil also lent support for palm oil and other vegetable oil prices.
Malaysian palm oil prices are starting to pick up, gaining 16 percent so far this year compared with U.S. soyoil's
January 2011 crude palm oil futures
But the contract gave up gains to settle 2 ringgit lower at 3,090 ringgit per tonne. Overall traded volume stood at 12,719 lots of 25 tonnes.
REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The Philippine stock market hit a record high on Tuesday, helped by foreign buying, but most other Southeast Asian markets fell as cautious investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of a Fed decision on quantitative easing measures.
Net foreign inflows of $8.6 million helped take the Philippine index to a record close of 4,341.74, surpassing its previous high from Oct. 26.
However, other markets in the region ended mixed as investors were wary of the size and the impact of the QE measure, which will be decided when a Federal Reserve meeting ends on Wednesday.
Indonesia <.JKSE> fell 0.5 percent, Malaysia <.KLSE> edged down 0.2 percent, and Vietnam ended 1.1 percent weaker.
Bucking the trend, Singapore <.FTSTI> rose 0.4 percent and Thailand edged up 0.2 percent, hitting another 14-year high, despite a net outflow of foreign funds worth $25.2 million.
In Singapore, palm oil firm Wilmar International