The Dow and the S&P struggled to advance past major technical levels -- the 12,000 mark for the Dow and 1,300 for the S&P -- but investors see more gains for companies that outperform in their earnings.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> finished up 4.39 points, or 0.04 percent, at 11,989.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> closed up 2.91 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,299.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 15.78 points, or 0.58 percent, at 2,755.28.
NYMEX-NEW YORK, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended nearly 2 percent lower on Wednesday as weak U.S. economic data spurred selling that wiped out Tuesday's gains, in a session delayed by heavy snow in the New York area,
Talk of higher OPEC production and a weekly forecast showing higher seaborne oil exports from the group added pressure.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude
CBOT-CHICAGO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex futures close on Thursday.
CBOT-SOYBEANS - March
CBOT-SOYOIL - March
FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rebounded on Thursday from one-week lows hit the previous day, buoyed by global commodities markets and stronger demand ahead of Lunar New Year.
Commodities rebounded forcefully on Wednesday from sharp losses the previous session as demand hopes and supply snags drove up oil, metals and crop prices.
The benchmark April crude palm oil contract
REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets mostly gained on Thursday as foreign investors again put money into the region although volume on the whole was low.
Commodity and energy shares were in particular demand. Indonesia <.JKSE> ended 0.4 percent higher, below the 1.4 percent seen in the early trade, led by shares in the consumer goods sector, and foreign investors bought a net $80.2 million of stock after $176.4 million in the previous three sessions, Reuters data showed.
Malaysia <.JKSE> gained 0.5 percent, with Petronas Chemicals Group
Some regional analysts say foreigners may increase their buying in the region as the valuations are becoming attractive again after the recent fall.
Singapore is trading at 13.9 times this year's projected earnings, the highest in the region and compared to all-Asia's 12.9. Thailand is trading at 11.4, lower than the 13.7 of Malaysia and Indonesia and 12.4 of the Philippines, Thomson Reuters StarMine data shows.