Thursday, July 15, 2010

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks broke a six-day winning streak on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 ending a hair lower after the Federal Reserve suggested additional measures may be needed to combat a weakening economy.

Optimism over the start of earnings season limited declines after Intel Corp reported better-than-expected results on signs of renewed corporate spending. Shares of Intel rose 1.7 percent to $21.36, helping keep the Dow and Nasdaq slightly higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> edged up 3.70 points, or 0.04 percent, to end at 10,366.72. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dipped just 0.17 of a point, or 0.02 percent, to 1,095.17. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 7.81 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,249.84.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged lower on Wednesday, turning negative in late trading after minutes from the most recent meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers showed a less-than-optimistic economic outloook.

The Fed document released in the afternoon outweighed government data showing domestic crude inventories fell 5.1 million barrels last week which dwarfed a Reuters poll forecast for a 1.4 million barrel drawdown.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, August crude settled down 11 cents, or 0.14 percent, at $77.04 a barrel, trading from $76.38 to $78.15. The early intraday peak was just below crude's 200-day moving average at $77.39.

CBOT-CHICAGO, July 14 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - July expired up 5-1/2 cents per bushel at $10.36. September up 8-1/4 cents at $9.75-1/4 per bushel; new-crop November up 7-1/2 at $9.62.

CBOT-SOYOIL - July up 0.13 cent per lb at 38.05. August up 0.09 cent at 38.11 cents per lb. Higher but losing ground to soymeal on meal/oil spreads;
pressured by bearish NOPA soyoil stocks build.

FCPO-JAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil settled 1.19 percent high on Wednesday on expectations of strong demand and low stocks because of slower production.

Erratic weather in many countries has damaged grains crops, including vegetable oils, and this is expected to drive prices of food higher, offering support for the palm oil market, dealers said.

Malaysia's June palm oil production rose just 2.5 percent to 1.42 million tonnes, even with the start of the high production season, as erratic weather lowered yields in key growing areas.

The benchmark September contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange ended up 28 ringgit at 2,381 ringgit ($745) a tonne -- a level last touched on June 25. Overall volume stood at 10,665 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, July 14 (Reuters) - Singapore shares climbed to a 10-week high on Wednesday, cheered by strong GDP numbers, while strong results from global technology bellwether Intel boosted regional tech shares.

The region's stock markets continued to benefit from a healthy economic outlook, which has helped push Indonesia <.JKSE> close to an all-time high, Malaysia <.KLSE> to two-month highs, the Philippines <.PSI> to a 2-1/2-year high and Thai shares <.SETI> to their highest in around two years.

In Singapore, PNE Micron surged 14.3 percent, leading a rally in Singapore-listed technology shares.

Bright spots in the region included Malaysia's top power producer, Tenaga Nasional , which rose 1.53 percent. After the market close it reported a net profit before currency effects of 538 million ringgit for its third quarter.