DJI- NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - Oil prices plunged nearly $2 per barrel and global stocks fell for a third consecutive session on Thursday as shrinking manufacturing in China and in the two largest economies of the euro zone fueled worries about global growth.
U.S. Treasuries prices and the dollar rose as risk aversion increased, although fresh evidence that the U.S. labor market continues to strengthen tempered investors' bid for safety.
China, the world's second-biggest economy and a key driver of growth, said its manufacturing sector shrank for a fifth straight month in March. A senior government economist said the economy is facing more downward pressure than had been expected.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed down 78.48 points, or 0.60 percent, to 13,046.14. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> lost 10.11 points, or 0.72 percent, to 1,392.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 12.00 points, or 0.39 percent, to 3,063.32.
NYMEX- NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended almost 2 percent lower on Thursday as weak manufacturing data from China and the euro zone raised concerns that a slowdown in global growth could cut demand for oil.
The day's losses wiped out gains of more than 1 percent on Wednesday that emerged after data showed a surprise drawdown in U.S. crude inventories last week.
Losses were briefly pared in the morning on a report that first-time filings for jobless claims fell to a four-year low last week.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for May delivery settled at $105.35 a barrel, falling $1.92, or 1.79 percent.
CBOT SOYBEANS- Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell on disappointing weekly U.S. export sales and fears that economic concerns will slow demand from China, the world's top soy buyer, traders said.
Soybeans also pressured as investors unwound long soy/short corn spreads, due in part to positioning before key U.S. government plantings and stocks reports next week.
Spillover from U.S. crude oil futures, which fell nearly 2 percent as weak Chinese and European manufacturing data stoked fears that slowing economic growth could dent global energy demand. The HSBC flash purchasing managers index showed factory activity in China shrank for the fifth month in a row.
FCPO- KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures dropped to their lowest in nine days on Thursday as China's factory activity fell, renewing concerns over global economic growth and commodity demand.
Losses were limited compared to markets such as crude oil, as palm oil traders were betting export data due next week would show strong demand from Europea and India.
Benchmark June palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended down 0.8 percent at 3,342 ringgit ($1,100) per tonne after falling as low as 3,334 ringgit -- the lowest since March 13.
REGIONAL EQUITY- BANGKOK, March 22 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks gave up most of their early gains on Thursday, with Singapore and Thailand falling into red, after data showed China's factory activity shrank for a fifth straight month.
The weak PMI survey added to recent concerns about a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and the risks it poses to still sluggish global growth.
The euro zone's economy also took an unexpected turn for the worse in March.
