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.

Breaking News-INTERVIEW-UPDATE 1-Malaysia's Sime to spend 3-5 bln rgt on palm

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Reuters) - Malaysia's top planter Sime Darby will spend 3-5 billion ringgit ($918.3 million-1.53 billion) on its oil palm estates this year as global demand for the vegetable oil grows, a senior official said on Wednesday.
Sime owns 530,000 hectares of estates planted with oil palms in Malaysia and Indonesia and has another 300,000-400,000 hectares of concessions from Liberia and Malaysia's Sarawak state that are yet to be developed.

Breaking News-RTRS-Europe oils-Palm oil prices in Europe edge up in Q1

AMSTERDAM, March 31 (Reuters) - Prompt prices for crude palm oil in Europe rose slightly in the first quarter of 2010, boosted by firmer crude oil and dollar weakness, though slower demand from the energy and feed sectors has limited gains.
Prompt crude palm oil was offered at $817.50 a tonne cif Europe on Wednesday, up 1.6 percent since the end of 2009, helped by rallying crude oil prices but faced with slowing demand from consumers.

Breaking news-RTRS-UPDATE 1-China traders warned off Argentine soyoil -source

BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) - A trade body under China's Ministry of Commerce urged traders in a meeting not to buy soyoil from Argentina, a trader who attended the meeting said on Wednesday.
The trader cited officials at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Foodstuffs, part of the Ministry of Commerce, as saying the move was part of a wider trade dispute.

Breaking News - RTRS-UPDATE 1-China to restate standard on crude soyoil imports

BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) - China's quarantine bureau will re-emphasise quality standards for crude soyoil imports, effectively limiting imports, trade sources said on Wednesday.
The authority will tighten checks on solvent residue levels in imports of crude soyoil cargoes, ensuring all imported cargoes have a maximum residue level of 100 parts per million (ppm), they said.

Breaking News-RTRS-UPDATE 5-Argentine port workers end strike after deal

PUERTO GENERAL SAN MARTIN, Argentina, March 31 (Reuters) - Argentine port workers reached a deal on Wednesday with exporters in one of the world's leading grains suppliers to end a strike that stoked supply worries and had driven global soy prices sharply higher.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as a report showing a surprising drop in private- sector employment stoked concerns about the health of the labor market two days before the government's key jobs data.

Wall Street took a one-two punch from ADP Employer Services data showing U.S. private-sector employers unexpectedly cut jobs in March and a separate report that showed U.S. Midwest business activity expanded less than expected last month.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 50.79 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 10,856.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> shed 3.84 points, or 0.33 percent, to 1,169.43. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 12.73 points, or 0.53 percent, to end at 2,397.96.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures on Wednesday ended at their highest level this year and posted the loftiest settlement for a front-month crude contract in almost 1.5 years as a weakening of the dollar attracted buying.

The day's rally extended gains to a third day in a row. Front-month crude ended higher for the fifth consecutive quarter, gaining $4.40, or 5.54 percent, in the latest period.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude settled up $1.39, or 1.69 percent, at $83.76 a barrel, the highest settlement since Oct. 9, 2008's $86.59. It traded from $82.22 to $83.85, below the year's high of $83.95 hit Jan. 11.

CBOT-CHICAGO, March 31 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 33 cents at $9.41 a bushel; November down 8-1/2 at $9.18. Pressured by USDA's higher-than-expected U.S. March 1 stocks figure of 1.270 billion bushels, above the average trade estimate of 1.208 billion.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 0.36 cent at 38.31 cents per lb. Following sharp sell-off in soybeans, but firm tone in crude oil limits declines.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Reuters) - Malaysia crude palm oil futures made little upward progress on Wednesday as firmer ringgit offset stronger global markets and higher export data.

Benchmark June crude palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Deravatives Exchange ended up 0.2 percent or 6 ringgit, at 2,551 ringgit ($780.8). Trading volume shot up to 14,487 lots of 25 tonnes each compared with the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, March 31 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian shares fell on Wednesday, taking a breather after recent strong inflows pushed Indonesia and other regional markets higher, a trend analysts said may continue as Asia leads the global economic recovery.

Indonesia <.MIID00000PID>, which is hovering near an all-time high, was the star performer in the January-March quarter with a gain of 6.5 percent, against a 1.47 percent rise in the MSCI index of Asian shares outside Japan <.MIAPJ0000PUS>.

Singapore <.FTSTI> fell 1.6 percent on Wednesday and ended the quarter 0.35 percent lower, making it Southeast Asia's worst performer. The market is trading at 15-18 times estimated 2010 earnings, analysts said.

In Kuala Lumpur, gaming group Genting fell 1.9 percent but top planter Sime Darby edged up 0.11 percent. Sime Darby said it would spend 3-5 billion ringgit on its palm estates this year as global demand for the oil grows.

NYMEX Crude Daily: Bias to little upside potential

Market rebounded sharply had improved the immediate technical landscape to bias upside potential. As for now, we are looking at the immediate upside resistance at USD83.95 followed by USD86.00-87.00. To the downside, support is pegged at USD80.00

FCPO Daily: Remains sideways to lower

Nothing much changes on the immediate technical landscape despite market defended at 2500 level. Thus, market looks may continue to move sideways to lower in near term. As for now, we continue to look for the upside resistance at 2595-2600. While, immediate downside support is lies at 2500 followed by 2470-2462 (gap left over since 3/2/2010).

Breaking News-FACTBOX-New economic model to boost Malaysia's palm oil sector

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Reuters) - Malaysia's palm oil industry could contribute 7.6 percent of real GDP by 2020, outstripping the electronics sector, estimates and recommendations from the National Economic Advisory Council show.
This makes palm oil a key sector that will drive the Southeast Asian country's New Economic Model, which Prime Minister Najib Razak unveiled on Tuesday.

Breaking News-RTRS-Oil World hikes forecast of Argentine soybean crop

HAMBURG, March 30 (Reuters) - Argentina's 2010 soybean crop is likely to rise to 53.3 million tonnes from 32 million tonnes in 2009, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World forecast on Tuesday.
This was up by 1.3 million tonnes from Oil World's previous estimate on March 2.
It also raised its forecast of Brazil's 2010 soybean crop to 66.0 million tonnes, a more moderate rise of 0.5 million tonnes from its previous forecast and up from 57.5 million tonnes last year.

Breaking News-RTRS-China Dalian soyoil up on import curb talk -trade

BEIJING, March 30 (Reuters) - China's Dalian soyoil and palmoil contracts <0#DBY:> <0#DCP:> traded higher on Tuesday, supported by market talk that the government may take measures to restrict imports of soyoil, traders said.
The commerce ministry has asked 16 edible oil companies for an emergency meeting, triggering speculation that the government might take steps to restrict imports because it has a surplus of supplies at home, the Dalian Commodity Exchange said in a short notice to media.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose in a slow session on Tuesday on data showing more stabilization in the economy, while Apple Inc rallied on a report that it was developing a new iPhone.

With the S&P 500 <.SPX> now up 73.4 percent from the March 2009 bottom and on track for a fourth straight quarterly gain, investors chose to lock in profits, with financials taking the brunt of the selling.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> edged up 11.56 points, or 0.11 percent, to end at 10,907.42, not far below the 11,000 mark. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added just 0.05 of a point, or 0.00 percent, to 1,173.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 6.33 points, or 0.26 percent, to close at 2,410.69.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose slightly in post-settlement trading on Tuesday, after industry data showed a much smaller-than-expected increase in crude stocks last week.

Heating oil and gasoline futures edged up, as data from the American Petroleum Institute showed that distillate and gasoline supplies fell, but by less than analysts had forecast.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT), May crude was up 44 cents at $82.61 a barrel. It had settled up 20 cents, or 0.24 percent, at $82.37, trading from $81.77 to $82.74.

CBOT-CHICAGO, March 30 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May up 6-1/2 cents at $9.74 per bushel. Nearby May leads the way up on shrinking U.S. soy supplies and concern about labor unrest in Argentina. May/November widened 5-1/2 cents and May/November closed at 42-1/2 cents, premium May.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 0.60 cent at 38.67 cents per lb. Pressured by talk that China may take steps to restrict imports on soyoil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose 1 percent on Tuesday, recovering from seven-week lows on stronger crude oil prices.
Traders said the palm oil market, which has lost 4.4 percent so far this year, could rebound as it has been oversold for many days.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 25 ringgit to settle at 2,545 ringgit ($779.5) after going as low as 2,501 ringgit -- a level unseen since Feb 5. Overall traded volume surged to 19,557 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, March 30 (Reuters) - Thai stocks rose on Tuesday, turning round after three days of losses as investors bought energy shares as oil firmed, but Malaysia ended flat, shrugging off the prime minister's promise of economic reforms.

Other major markets in the region were little changed, with Singapore edging up 0.15 percent and Indonesia inching up 0.13 percent. Bucking the trend, Vietnam <.VNI> fell nearly 1 percent.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> was flat even though Prime Minister Najib Razak unveiled long-promised economic reforms on Tuesday, with plans to reduce race-based programmes in what he described as a "bold transformation". A lack of detail prompted scepticism.

In Singapore, Singapore Telecoms fell 0.3 percent while Wilmar International rose 1.5 percent.

CBOT Soyoil Daily: Weaken

Market momentum weaken further following prices violated the immediate downside support at Usc39.00. Thus, market may move sideways to lower in near term. To the upside resistance is pegged at USc40.00 while downside support is lies at USc38.50-38.00.

FKLI Daily: Facing some resistance at 1328 levels

Market looks is facing some resistance at 1328 levels. Violation of it may lift market to challenge the recent high at 1337 levels. To the downside, support is pegged at 1310-1300.

FCPO Daily: 2500 levels defended

Market defended at 2500 levels and rebounded after drop for straight two days. However, immediate technical landscape remains weak. Thus, market looks may continue to move sideways to lower in near term. As for now, we continue to look for the upside resistance at 2595-2600. While, immediate downside support is lies at 2500 followed by 2470-2462 (gap left over since 3/2/2010).

Breaking News-RTRS-MALAYSIA PM NAJIB SAYS TIME TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES

March 30 (Reuters) -: * Malaysia pm najib says time to review implementation of affirmative action policies * Malaysia pm najib says social support to be based on needs not race * Malaysia pm najib says employees provident fund to be allowed to invest more assets offshore * Malaysia pm najib says epf overseas investment to rise significantly from 6pct of total * Malaysia to list stakes in two petronas units -pm

Breaking News-RTRS-UPDATE 1-Malaysia PM unveils economic reforms

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Reuters) - Malaysia's prime minister on Tuesday unveiled long-promised economic reforms that he said would make this Southeast Asian country a developed nation by 2020 but he provided few clues as to how he would get there.
Najib Razak's "New Economic Model" said Malaysia would grow by 6.5 percent a year from 2011 to 2020 so as to be able to join the club of developed nations. He pledged to cut the budget deficit and introduce new taxes to do so.

Breaking News-RTRS-Unilever: No plans to cut palm oil supply ties with IOI

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Reuters) - Consumer goods giant Unilever said it would not cancel palm oil supply contracts with Malaysia's IOI and that it was confident the planter would address concerns over logging forests raised by a green group.
IOI Corp, Malaysia's No. 2 planter, had dismissed the report by Friends of the Earth that it cleared rainforests on Borneo island to expand, saying the allegations were inaccurate.

Breaking News-RTRS-Malaysian palm prices to rise, output lower-Mistry

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures prices look set to rise, possibly by more than 25 percent, with a second consecutive decline in production anticipated this year, a top analyst said on Monday.