Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained on Thursday after surprisingly strong March retail sales increased optimism that the economic recovery is on track.

Investors snapped up retailers' shares after top U.S. chains reported a record year-over-year increase in same-store sales for March. The sales reflected a boost in consumer demand that some investors had doubted would materialize, with job growth still anemic.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 29.55 points, or 0.27 percent, to 10,927.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 3.99 points, or 0.34 percent, to 1,186.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 5.65 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,436.81.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures settled lower onThursday, dropping a second straight session as a rising inventories, higher U.S. jobless claims and the dollar's strength helped pressure oil.

Those factors outweighed strong retail sales data that fueled a bounce by U.S. stocks on Wall Street and helped lift crude oil futures off an earlier low.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude fell 49 cents, or 0.57 percent, to $85.39 a barrel, trading from $84.38 to $85.88. Tuesday's $87.09 peak was the highest intraday price since $89.82 was struck on Oct. 9, 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 8 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex closing trends on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 6 cents at $9.46-1/2 a bushel; November down 3-3/4 at $9.37-1/2. Lower crude oil prices and harvesting of a huge South American soybean crop weigh, in addition to profit taking after Wednesday's rally.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 0.11 cent at 39.92 cents per lb. Lower crude oil and weak soy weighs.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell 1.5 percent on Thursday as the firm Malaysian ringgit and Greek debt woes weighed on sentiment.

Growing doubts over Greece's ability to resolve its debt crisis offset market expectations that Malaysian palm oil stocks probably fell to a six month low in March.

Benchmark June crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange dropped 39 ringgit to settle at 2,500 ringgit ($777.8), hovering around a near-nine week low hit on Tuesday. Overall traded volumes surged to 17,847 lots of 25tonnes each from usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 8 (Reuters) - Thai stocks <.SETI> fell 3.5 percent on Thursday, far more than other Southeast Asian markets after a state of emergency was declared in Bangkok, while Indonesia fell back after reports of temporary capital controls.

Appetite for equities in the region was dented by the view of a top Federal Reserve official who said U.S. interest rates should not stay low for much longer, suggesting to some that recent strong inflows into Asia might wane.

Singapore <.FTSTI> and Malaysia <.KLSE> lost almost 1 percent, ending recent runs to 21-month and 25-month highs respectively. The Philippines <.PSI> eased 0.4 percent, hovering around 26-month highs. Vietnam <.VNI> was flat.

Breaking News-RTRS-MALAYSIA'S END-MARCH PALM OIL STOCKS SEEN DOWN 7.6 PCT AT 1.65 MLN TONNES VS FEB - REUTERS POLL

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Reuters) - Malaysia's March palm oil
stocks dropped 7.6 percent to six-month lows as higher overseas
demand along with local consumption outweighed a recovery in
production, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday.
Inventories in the world's No. 2 palm oil producer fell for a
third month to 1.65 million tonnes but the pace of the decline
was muted on higher imports from top producer Indonesia, a
Reuters poll of five plantation houses showed.

Breaking News-RTRS-GLOBAL MARKETS-Stocks, euro slide on Greek scare, Hoenig speech

NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slid and the euro eased on Wednesday as Greece's fiscal woes resurfaced and investors took flight after a top Federal Reserve official warned of the perils of keeping interest rates too low for too long.
Copper prices tumbled and U.S. oil futures ended lower, snapping six straight days of gains, on government data that showed crude stocks rose last week for the 10th week in a row to their highest level since last June.

Breaking News-RTRS-Indonesia's palm oil shipments unaffected by quake

JAKARTA, April 7 (Reuters) - Palm oil shipments from Indonesia's main port of Belawan in Sumatra are unlikely to be affected by an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude which struck off the coast of Aceh on Wednesday, officials said.
Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer.

Breaking News-RTRS-Talk of China buying US corn rallies CBOT futures

CHICAGO, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. corn futures surged nearly 3 percent on Wednesday, fueled in part by talk that China, once a top exporter of the grain, was looking to import corn, traders and analysts said.
Chicago Board of Trade May corn futures closed 10 cents higher, up 2.9 percent, at $3.56-1/2 per bushel also on support from technical buying and short-covering as the dollar <.DXY> came off its day high.
But there was widespread talk that China could be seeking to import corn.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell in a broad late-day drop on Wednesday after a top Federal Reserve official said interest rates should not stay low for much longer, giving investors an excuse to take profits.

A speech by Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Thomas Hoenig drove afternoon selling after he said keeping interest rates too low for too long would encourage risky financial behavior.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 72.47 points, or 0.66 percent, to 10,897.52. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> slipped 6.99 points, or 0.59 percent, to 1,182.45. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 5.65 points, or 0.23
percent, to 2,431.16.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower for the first time in seven sessions on Wednesday, after government data showed that crude stocks rose last week for the 10th week in a row, hitting the highest level since June.

The dollar gained against the euro, also prompting traders to trim their long positions on crude futures, analysts said.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude last traded down $1.20 at $85.64 a barrel, after extending the day's lows in post-settlement trading to $85.52. It had settled down 96 cents, or 1.11 percent, at $85.88, trading from $85.75 to $87.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 7 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May up 8 cents at $9.52-1/2 a bushel; November up 9-1/2 at $9.41-1/4. Following rally in corn; technical buying adds momentum as did the dollar easing from the day's highs. Firm cash markets supported prices.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May up 0.26 cent at 40.03 cents per lb. Support from soybeans offsets falling crude oil prices.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures ended higher on Wednesday on the back of firmer soyoil markets although the surging ringgit currency nipped gains.

Palm oil, which lost 4 percent in the first quarter of 2010, is making little headway as the ringgit reached multi-month highs at the start of the second quarter.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 19 ringgit, or 0.8 percent, to settle at 2,539 ringgit ($790.5). Traded volume stood at 12,606 lots of 25 tonnes each, up from the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 7 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday on increasing confidence about economic prospects in the region and the outlook for corporate earnings, with energy and banks leading the way.

Foreign inflows into Southeast Asian bourses and upward revisions to GDP growth forecasts in the region bode well for more earnings revisions, justifying higher market valuations, analysts said.

Singapore <.FTSTI> added 0.4 percent to a 21-month high and Malaysia <.KLSE> rose 0.05 percent, coming off its early gain to a 25-month high.

In Singapore, commodities firms were among top actively traded stocks, with Wilmar International gaining 0.4 percent, Olam International climbing 4.6 percent and Noble Group up 0.9 percent as it offered to buy out
Australia's Gloucestor Coal

In Kuala Lumpur, Tenaga Nasional and Petronas each gained over 1 percent.

Breaking News-RTRS-China/Argentine soyoil row temporary- Oil World

HAMBURG, April 6 (Reuters) - Any Chinese import restrictions on Argentine soyoil are likely to be temporary because of a lack of alternative supplies, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World forecast on Tuesday.
Chinese traders said on Mar. 31 that the Chinese government had asked them not to buy Argentine soyoil as part of a wider trade dispute.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 6 (Reuters) - The euro fell broadly on Tuesday as worries about Greece's finances resurfaced, and two major U.S. stock indexes rose as minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting eased concerns over rising interest rates.

The jitters about Greece spurred safe-haven demand for U.S. Treasuries and also drove gold to a one-month high as investors sought safety.

Crude oil hit an 18-month high as prices inched toward $87 a barrel on continued optimism over the economic recovery.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dipped 3.56 points, or 0.03 percent, to 10,969.99, but the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> closed up 2.00 points, or 0.17 percent, at 1,189.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 7.28 points, or 0.30 percent, to 2,436.81.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 6 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures nursed small gains in post-settlement trade on Tuesday after weekly industry inventory data showed a larger-than-expected gasoline stock decline and smaller-than-forecast crude stock build.

Gasoline futures posted a minor gain after being flat just before release of the American Petroleum Institute's data and after being down slightly at settlement.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude last traded up 15 cents at $86.77 a barrel, after having settled up 22 cents, or 0.25 percent, at $86.84. The day's close was the highest since Oct. 8, 2008's $88.95. It traded from $86.13 to $87.09, the highest since the intraday high of $89.82 on Oct. 9, 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 6 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures closed up sharply on short-covering after Iraq bought 500,000 tonnes of wheat, including a cargo of U.S. milling wheat.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - Support from slow farmer selling, firm cash basis markets and short-covering. May last at $9.43-3/4, up 7-3/4.

CBOT-SOYOIL - Soy rally boosts soyoil. May last at 39.79 cents per lb, up 0.44 cent.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Reuters) - Malaysia palm oil futures fell on Tuesday as the stronger ringgit and reports of higher production last month weighed on sentiment.

Profit-taking across many commodities also pressured palm oil, which lost 5 percent in the first quarter of 2010 because of expectations for a bumper soy crop and the growing strength of the ringgit against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended down 0.4 percent at 2,520 ringgit ($780.2) after dropping to as low as 2,498 ringgit -- a level unseen since Feb.5. Traded volume surged to 18,000 lots of 25 tonnes each from
the usual 10,000 lots.

Breaking News-RTRS-Argentina to protest Chinese soy oil measures

BUENOS AIRES, April 3 (Reuters) - Argentina will formally complain on Monday to China over Beijing's plans to block soy oil imports from the South American country, the foreign ministry said early on Saturday.
Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana has called Chinese Ambassador Zeng Gang for a meeting where he will express that the Argentine government is "upset and worried" about Chinese measures against its soy oil, the foreign ministry press office said.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, pushing the Dow up near the 11,000 level, as signs of a turnaround in the U.S. labor market bolstered hopes the economy is strengthening and the profit outlook is brightening.

Shares of natural resources companies led the gains on expectations that an improving economy would drive up demand.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 46.48 points, or 0.43 percent, to end at 10,973.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 9.34 points, or 0.79 percent, to finish at 1,187.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shot up 26.95 points, or 1.12 percent, to 2,429.53.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended above $86 a barrel, the highest close in 18 months, as the market brimmed with optimism that economic recovery was taking hold in the wake of Friday's positive jobs report.

Fresh economic data on Monday, when trading resumed after a long holiday weekend, showed an unexpected rise in February pending home sales and an improved gauge of the services sector in March, adding more bounce for oil.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude settled up $1.75, or 2.06 percent, at $86.62 a barrel, the highest close since Oct. 8, 2008's $88.95. It traded from $85.06 to $86.90, highest intraday price since Oct. 9, 2008's $89.82.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 5 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 6 cents at $9.36 a bushel; November down 3-1/2 at $9.22-1/4. Choppy. Last week's resolution of Argentine port strike pressures market along with ongoing harvest of a huge South American soy crop.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May up 0.37 cent at 39.35 cents per lb. Gaining against soymeal on oil/meal spreading.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell 1.1 percent Monday as the stronger ringgit currency offset earlier crude oil-driven gains.

Commodities across the board were up on the weaker U.S. dollar but palm oil erased its gains made in the morning session as the Malaysian currency hit a 21-month high, chewing into refiner margins.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 29 ringgit to settle at 2,530 ringgit ($784.2) after rising as high as 2,588 ringgit.

Traded volume rose to 17,008 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual 10,000 lots, suggesting that traders were booking profits.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia's stock index <.JKSE> hit a record high on Monday on expectations the central bank would leave interest rates on hold this week, while Thailand ended higher despite mounting political protests in Bangkok.

Strong economic prospects continued to attract funds into the region, sending Singapore <.FTSTI> up 0.86 percent to a 23-month high and Malaysia <.KLSE> up 0.43 percent to a 25-month highs and helping Thailand <.SETI> reverse early losses.

In Singapore, property shares were among actively traded stocks as home prices continued to rise following reported record transactions in recent weeks, with City Development , and Fraser & Neave both rising over 1 percent.

In Kuala Lumpur, financials led advancers, with CIMB Group climbing 1.1 percent and Public Bank 1.7 percent.

DJI Daily: Close to 11,000 levels

Market violated the recent high and pushed to close near to 11,000 levels had strengthened further the market upward momentum. Hence, immediate upside resistance is pegged at 11,000-11,160 followed by 11,500. To the downside, support is lies at 10,800 levels.

FKLI Daily: Uptrend likely to extend

Market fully covered the gap left over at 1345-1348 levels and maintain in upward posture steadily. Thus, we are now looking for the upside resistance at 1360-1375 followed by 1390-1400. While, downside support is adjusted to 1315-1310.

FCPO Daily: Market direction unclear

Market continue to stuck in range trading between 2500 to 2600 levels. Breakout from the either way may provide a more clearer direction to the market in near term.

Breaking News-RTRS-ANALYSIS-French firms pull the plug on palm oil

PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - French firms have stepped up restrictions on the use of palm oil, decried for being linked to deforestation in Asia, in a move that may boost demand for local oils but some warned it could raise new food and land problems.
The debate about palm oil's impact on the environment has intensified after green groups published reports last month blaming the way key producers were sourcing their oil by destroying rainforests and threatening endangered species.
In France it was amplified by a television broadcast that condemned food makers' use of cheap palm oil to cut costs and referring to health concern that its high level of saturated fat could raise cholesterol and heart diseases.

Trader's Highlight

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Reuters) - Malaysia palm oil futures rose on Friday, playing catch up with gains in crude oil and soyoil in the previous session.

U.S. crude oil and soyoil markets are closed on Friday for the long Easter weekend, along with other regional markets, which has kept palm oil's trading volumes light.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange edged up 0.6 percent, or 16 ringgit, to settle at 2,559 ringgit ($788.4). Traded volume was 7,134 lots of 25 tonnes each, from the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 2 (Reuters) - Thai stocks ended flat on Friday, sticking around 22-month highs as optimism grew over the economic recovery, while Malaysia hit a 25-month high.

The region had a listless session as many Asian bourses were closed on Good Friday, including Indonesia, Asia's best performer this year, Singapore and the Philippines, which reopen on Monday.

Malaysia <.KLSE> added 0.46 percent to its highest since March 4, 2008, led by a 1.4 percent rise in financial CIMB Group and a 0.85 percent gain in Public Bank .

Malaysia Airports climbed 3.1 percent to 4.95 ringgit. Broker OSK rated it a 'trading buy' with a target price of 5.5 ringgit, citing its business and revenue outlook.

FKLI Weekly: Uptrend remains intact

Bulls marched higher after violated the recent high at 1337.5. Uptrend remains intact and looks likely to challenge the left over gap at 1345-1348 followed by 1385-1395. To the downside, support is pegged at 1300-1285.

CBOT Soyoil Weekly: Sideways

Consolidation phase looks likely to extend in near term as prices not showing much improvement. Thus, we continue to look for the upside resistance at Usc41.05-41.95. While, downside support is pegged at USc36.26.

NYMEX Crude Weekly: More room to bias upside potential

Market has come to the end of its consolidation phase following prices violated the recent high at USD83.95. Thus, more room to bias upside potential with upside is projected at USD88.00-93.00. Immediate downside support is looking at USD80.00-78.00.

FCPO Weekly: Searching for dorection

Nothing much changes on the immediate technical landscape as prices move in a tight rangy mode. Thus, market looks may continue to consolidate and trade in the range of 2722-2726 to 2400-2393 levels.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - The dollar hit a seven-month high against the yen and global stocks rose on Thursday as data showing strong manufacturing growth in Asia, Europe and the Americas raised optimism about the economic recovery.

Oil rose to an 18-month high as the economic data encouraged funds to step up buying on the first day of the second quarter, and higher commodity prices helped drive up
energy and materials shares on both sides of the Atlantic.

Both the Dow and the S&P 500 finished Thursday's session at 18-month highs. The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> ended up 70.44 points, or 0.65 percent, at 10,927.07, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 8.67 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,178.10. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 4.62 points, or 0.19 percent, to 2,402.58.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures settled higher on Thursday for a fourth straight session as encouraging economic data, fund buying at the second quarter's start and the dollar's weakness against the euro combined to lift oil prices to 2010 peaks.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude rose $1.11, or 1.33 percent, to settle at $84.87 a barrel, trading from $83.21 to $85.22, highest intraday price since front-month crude reached $89.82 on Oct. 9, 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 1 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May up 1 cent at $9.42 a bushel; November up 7-3/4 at $9.25-3/4. Short-covering bounce after the sharp decline on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYMEAL - May up 10 cents at $265.90 per ton. May/December and July/December meal spreads continue to unwind as concerns about tight nearby supplies ease

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Reuters) - Malaysia crude palm oil futures ended 0.5 percent lower on Thursday, due to a weaker Dalian soyoil market, but strong crude oil prices limited losses.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 13 ringgit to settle at 2,543 ringgit ($780.3), after going as low as 2,532 ringgit.

Other contracts ended mixed, ranging from a fall of up to 43 ringgit to 20 ringgit gains. Overall trade more than doubled to 22,873 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared with the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 1 (Reuters) - Indonesian stocks neared a record high on Thursday after inflation data stoked expectations the central bank would keep interest rates at a record low next week, and Thai stocks hit a 22-month high.

Analysts said they expected further stock market gains in Southeast Asia's two biggest economies, citing signs of economic strength, solid earnings growth and benign inflation pressures.

Elsewhere in the region, after a poor first quarter Singapore <.FTSTI> jumped 1.9 percent, hovering around 11-week highs. DBS rose 1.8 percent and Neptune Oreint Lines surged 6.97 percent after an analyst upgrade. [ID:nSGE63000H]

Malaysia <.KLSE> gained 0.7 percent and Vietnam <.VNI> 1.79 percent. The Philippines was closed for its Easter break and will resume trading on Monday.

Singapore and Indonesia are also closed on Friday.