FCPO-JAKARTA, May 31 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell almost 1 percent on Monday, despite data showing improved exports, after a downgrade of Spain's credit rating led to investor caution over riskier assets like commodities.
Markets in May were focused on the euro zone debt crisis which began with worries over Greece's finances and entered a new phase on Friday when Fitch ratings agency downgraded Spain's sovereign debt rating.
The benchmark August crude palm oil futures
on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 0.85 percent, or 21 ringgit, to close at 2,436 ringgit ($794.1), after touching 2,425 ringgit, the lowest level since May 19. Traded volume was 9,540 lots of 25 tonnes each.
REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, May 31 (Reuters) - Indonesian shares rose more than three percent to nearly a two-week peak on Monday, boosted by foreign buying and expectations the central bank will leave its key interest rate unchanged at a record-low this week.
Singapore <.FTSTI>, Malaysia <.KLSE> and Thailand <.SETI> also gained as fund managers bought large-capitalised stocks for month-end window dressing following holidays on Friday.
In Singpore, Parkway Holdings shares jumped 22.9 percent after Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah offered $835 million for control of Singapore's biggest private healthcare group, leaving India's Fortis Healthcare to make the next move in a potential takeover battle.
In Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia Bhd rose 4.3 percent before it announced after the market close that its first-quarter net profit rose from the same period a year ago.
