The S&P 500's close is on the cusp of closing levels not seen since before Lehman Brothers collapsed in September 2008, an important psychological barrier for investors at 1,255.08 points.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> added 55.03 points, or 0.48 percent, to 11,533.16. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 7.52 points, or 0.60 percent, to 1,254.60. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 18.05 points, or 0.68 percent, to 2,667.61.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended higher for the third straight session on Tuesday in thin, pre-holiday trading volume, driven by rising expectations for economic growth and greater demand for gasoline and heating oil.
Front-month January gasoline
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex closing trends on Tuesday.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - January
CBOT-SOYOIL - January
FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose 1.2 percent on Tuesday as traders grew more concerned over heavy rains curbing production in the world's second largest producer of the vegetable oil.
The market expected December production to fall by 10 percent to 1.31 million tonnes, the lowest in ten months as rains hit key oil palm growing areas in mainland Malaysia and Borneo island states of Sabah and Sarawak.
Benchmark March 2011 crude palm oil futures
Palm oil at its highest level today is just 10.6 percent away from 4,000 ringgit level and further erratic weather may boost agricultural commodities.
REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday as investors sought bargains from recently-beaten shares with promising outlooks, including Thai refiners and financial stocks across the region.
Trading remained lacklustre, with volume falling by half in most share markets in a dearth of market participants towards the year-end.
Indonesia <.JKSE> climbed nearly 2 percent, reversing Monday's loss, while Singapore <.FTSTI>, Malaysia <.KLSE>, Thailand <.SETI>, the Philippines <.PSI>, and Vietnam <.VNI> posted smaller gains.