DJI- NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 ended flat on Monday after recent sharp losses, though worries about the European debt crisis and weaker U.S. data kept investors wary of equities.
Signs of economic weakness around the globe and Europe's intensifying debt crisis have rattled investors, who have been dumping riskier investments like commodities and equities for the safety of government bonds.
On Monday, U.S. data showed orders for manufactured goods dropped 0.6 percent in April, its third decline in four months and confounding expectations calling for a 0.2 percent gain.
In a potential boost to markets looking for measures to end the debt crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is pressing for much more ambitious measures, including a central authority to manage euro-area finances and major new powers for the European Commission, European Parliament and European Court of Justice.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is advocating a direct European rescue for the country's banks with moral support from the European Commission, but Germany appeared cool to such a move for the euro zone's fourth biggest member.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slipped 17.11 points, or 0.14 percent, to 12,101.46 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> inched up just 0.14 of a point, or 0.01 percent, to 1,278.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 12.53 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 2,760.01.
NYMEX- NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rebounded on Monday after four days of losses and last week's slide of 8.4 percent, as the euro rallied on hopes that European authorities can contain the euro zone debt crisis.
Bargain hunting also encouraged some buyers to step back in, after the recent sell-off had dragged prices to near eight-month lows and, according to a technical indicator, put the market in a sharply oversold condition.
Ahead of weekly inventory reports, domestic crude stockpiles were forecast to have fallen by 900,000 barrels in the week to June 1. That would snap 10 straight weeks of builds in government stocks data, with analysts citing lower imports.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for July delivery settled at $83.98 a barrel, gaining 75 cents, or 0.9 percent. It earlier dropped to a session low of $81.21, the lowest since Oct. 6.
CBOT SOYBEAN- Nearby July soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade were lower at the close of pit trading as traders exited long soybean/short corn spreads, traders said.
But back months rose on anticipation that funds would roll long nearby positions forward.
Trade was thin, with soybean futures volume near 130,000 contracts by the close of pit trade at 1:15 p.m. CDT (1815 GMT), about one-quarter less than the 250-day average.
New-crop contracts including November supported by USDA confirming sales of 165,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China for delivery in 2012/13.
New-crop contracts also supported by weather forecasts showing mostly dry conditions in the U.S. Midwest for the next week to 10 days that could stress crops.
A Reuters poll of 11 analysts predicted that USDA in its first U.S. soybean condition ratings of the season later on Monday would show the crop rated 69 percent good to excellent.
USDA reported export inspections of U.S. soybeans in the latest week at 16.965 million bushels, above trade expectations for 12 million to 14 million.
CBOT reported late Friday that the amount of soybeans registered for delivery fell by 99 contracts and soyoil registrations fell by 125 contracts, a possible sign of firming cash markets.
Farmers in Argentina's biggest agricultural province, Buenos Aires, started a nine-day freeze on grains sales on Saturday to protest a tax hike by the cash-strapped local government. However, the protest is not expected to cause much disruption to corn and soy shipments.
FCPO- SINGAPORE, June 4 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell to the lowest so far this year on Monday, as investors rushed for the exits on growing global economic fears that also triggered a broader sell-off in other commodities markets.
Palm oil closed below the key 3,000-ringgit mark for the first time since December 2011, with investors bearish due to weak economic data and as the eurozone debt crisis rumbles on.
"Sentiment is bad across all risky assets, for example crude oil. On the demand side, however, palm oil is still positive," said Alan Lim, research analyst with Kenanga Investment Bank in Malaysia.
"Palm oil is more on the defensive side because it's used mainly for food, so demand should be sustainable. Investors will be looking closely at the Greece election on June 17, so the market will still be volatile for this week and next week."
The benchmark August palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange slumped 1.6 percent to close at 2,958 ringgit ($923) per tonne after going as low as 2,925 ringgit, the lowest since Nov 2, 2011.
REGIONAL EQUITY- June 4 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday as investors dumped risky assets across the region on heightened fears of a global slowdown after disappointing data from U.S. and China.
Indonesia's Jakarta Composite <.JKSE> was one of the region's worst performers on Monday, losing 3.8 percent. The index had been among Asia's top gainers since the 2008 financial crisis.
Philippines' benchmark index <.PSI>, which hit a record high last month, fell 3.4 percent.
Earlier in the day, Asian share dived, with Tokyo stocks slumping to a 28-year low, on fears of a nightmare scenario of euro-zone breakup, U.S. economic relapse and a sharp slowdown in China.
While South East Asian countries sport relatively healthier economic growth than larger regional or global peers a slowdown in external demand is expected to take its tool hitting markets at a time when investors remain risk-averse.
Analysts at Malaysia's Affin Investment Bank said in a note to clients that weak manufacturing activity across the globe points to a further slowdown in growth over the second quarter in South East Asia.
Singapore's Straits Times index <.FTSTI> fell 1.7 percent to its lowest level in nearly five months led by commodities trader Olam International which slumped 5 percent. Global Logistic Properties fell 4.3 percent.
