DJI- NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - The euro hit a three-week low against the dollar and bonds edged higher on Thursday as Spain's debt burden fueled worries of further problems for euro zone economies and curbed appetite for riskier assets.Global stocks dipped, while energy and gold prices climbed.
A poor Spanish bond auction on Wednesday added to worries the impact of the European Central Bank's one trillion euro injection of cheap three-year funds into the banking system may be coming to an abrupt halt.
Spanish 10-year government bond yieldsrose as high as 5.86 percent on Thursday, dragging Italian rates in their wake as investors fled to the relative safety of German and U.S. debt.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 14.61 points, or 0.11 percent, at 13,060.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.88points, or 0.06 percent, at 1,398.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 12.41 points, or 0.40 percent, at 3,080.50.
NYMEX- NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose on Thursday after two straight days of losses as data showing a drop in U.S. jobless claims combined with uncertainty about supply disruptions to prompt short-covering ahead of a long
holiday weekend.
Data showing initial jobless benefits claims fell to the lowest level in nearly four years last week arrived a day ahead of the closely watched U.S. March nonfarm payrolls report, expected to show a gain of 203,000 jobs, including a rise in
private payrolls. [ID:nL2E8F51OP] [ID:nL2E8F3COO]
The West's tightening sanctions hampering Iran's oil exports and the uncertainty ahead of talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear program expected to be held at midmonth also helped support crude prices.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May cruderose $1.84, or 1.81 percent, to settle at $103.31 a barrel, having traded from $101.37 to $103.40.
CBOT SOYBEAN- Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher on Thursday on concerns about the size of South America's soy harvest and positioning ahead of a three-day U.S. holiday weekend, traders said.
* U.S. grain markets will be closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday.
* Strong weekly U.S. export sales added support. USDA reported export sales of U.S. soybeans in the latest week at 1,112,900 tonnes (old and new crop years combined), above a range of trade estimates for 600,000 to 850,000 tonnes.
FCPO- SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures were barely changed at the close of trading on Thursday, after gaining more than 3 percent in the last three sessions, as demand hopes stemming from worries about tighter soybean supply
continued to support prices.
Palm oil touched a near 13-month high in the previous session on expectations that global oilseed supply will tighten after a U.S. Department of Agriculture planting report showed farmers will plant less soybeans in coming months.
"The market is trading in a very tight range after a strong rally. On the local front, market players are looking out for April export numbers next week," said a trader with a foreign commodities brokerage in Malaysia.
Benchmark June palm oil futureson the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed 1 ringgit higher at 3,558 ringgit ($1,161) per tonne. Prices touched a high of 3,574 ringgit on Wednesday, a level not seen since March 9 last year. Traded volumes were light at 20,806 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to the usual 25,000 lots.
REGIONAL EQUITY- BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) - Stocks in Thailand and Malaysia retreated in light trade on Thursday amid profit-taking in big caps like as banks, but bargain hunting in beaten-down growth stocks lifted Indonesia.
Thailand's benchmark SET index <.SETI> ended down 1.3 percent at 1,182.41, falling at one point to 1,177.83, the lowest since March 16. The Thai market is shut on Friday and Monday for a holiday and trading will resume on Tuesday.
Singapore's main share index <.FTSTI> was nearly flat while Malaysia's main index <.KLSE> edged down 0.36 percent ahead of three day weekend, both reopening on Monday.
A poor Spanish bond auction on Wednesday added to worries the impact of the European Central Bank's one trillion euro injection of cheap three-year funds into the banking system may be coming to an abrupt halt.
Spanish 10-year government bond yields
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 14.61 points, or 0.11 percent, at 13,060.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.88points, or 0.06 percent, at 1,398.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 12.41 points, or 0.40 percent, at 3,080.50.
NYMEX- NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose on Thursday after two straight days of losses as data showing a drop in U.S. jobless claims combined with uncertainty about supply disruptions to prompt short-covering ahead of a long
holiday weekend.
Data showing initial jobless benefits claims fell to the lowest level in nearly four years last week arrived a day ahead of the closely watched U.S. March nonfarm payrolls report, expected to show a gain of 203,000 jobs, including a rise in
private payrolls. [ID:nL2E8F51OP] [ID:nL2E8F3COO]
The West's tightening sanctions hampering Iran's oil exports and the uncertainty ahead of talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear program expected to be held at midmonth also helped support crude prices.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude
CBOT SOYBEAN- Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher on Thursday on concerns about the size of South America's soy harvest and positioning ahead of a three-day U.S. holiday weekend, traders said.
* U.S. grain markets will be closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday.
* Strong weekly U.S. export sales added support. USDA reported export sales of U.S. soybeans in the latest week at 1,112,900 tonnes (old and new crop years combined), above a range of trade estimates for 600,000 to 850,000 tonnes.
FCPO- SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures were barely changed at the close of trading on Thursday, after gaining more than 3 percent in the last three sessions, as demand hopes stemming from worries about tighter soybean supply
continued to support prices.
Palm oil touched a near 13-month high in the previous session on expectations that global oilseed supply will tighten after a U.S. Department of Agriculture planting report showed farmers will plant less soybeans in coming months.
"The market is trading in a very tight range after a strong rally. On the local front, market players are looking out for April export numbers next week," said a trader with a foreign commodities brokerage in Malaysia.
Benchmark June palm oil futures
REGIONAL EQUITY- BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) - Stocks in Thailand and Malaysia retreated in light trade on Thursday amid profit-taking in big caps like as banks, but bargain hunting in beaten-down growth stocks lifted Indonesia.
Thailand's benchmark SET index <.SETI> ended down 1.3 percent at 1,182.41, falling at one point to 1,177.83, the lowest since March 16. The Thai market is shut on Friday and Monday for a holiday and trading will resume on Tuesday.
Singapore's main share index <.FTSTI> was nearly flat while Malaysia's main index <.KLSE> edged down 0.36 percent ahead of three day weekend, both reopening on Monday.
