Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks dipped on Wednesday as worries over Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's strategy after the economy recovers offset optimism about a possible rescue for debt-burdened Greece.

Trading volume was light, with many participants leaving early because of an East Coast snowstorm.

The French daily Le Monde wrote that France and Germany were set to present a plan at a European Union summit on Thursday aimed at preventing Greece from going bankrupt.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 20.26 points, or 0.20 percent, at 10,038.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 2.39 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,068.13. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 3.00 points, or 0.14 percent, at 2,147.87.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 10 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures gained for a third day in a row on Wednesday, lifted by an upbeat government global oil demand growth estimate for this year and as improving technical support spurred further fund buying.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration raised its 2010 forecast by 120,000 barrels per day to 1.2 million bpd in its latest outlook.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled up 77 cents, or 1.04 percent, at $74.52 a barrel, trading from $72.60 to $74.97. It gained $3.33, or 4.68 percent in three days, so far the longest winning span since the last big winning streak of 10 days between Dec. 22 to Jan. 6, during which front-month crude gained $10.71 or 14.8 percent.

Upcoming Chinese New Year's celebration could lead to slow dealings with China during next week.

SOYBEANS - March up 13 cents at $9.37-1/2 a bushel. Market rallies as crude oil prices turn higher. Traders note some short-covering with firm

SOYOIL - March down 0.11 cent at 38.27 cents a lb.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures closed little changed on Wednesday after a cargo surveyor's estimate of a big jump in Feb. 1-10 exports offset the negative impact of a smaller-than-expected drop in palm oil stock, traders said.

The Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange will be closed next Monday and Tuesday. The benchmark April contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange edged up 2 ringgit to 2,563 ringgit ($747.45) per tonne. Traded volume was 11,661 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Some Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday as worries about euro zone debt and the global economic recovery subsided, but Singapore and Indonesia retreated.

European governments have agreed in principle to help heavily indebted Greece, a senior German coalition source said, in what would be the first rescue of a euro zone member in the currency's 11-year history.

Thailand <.SETI> gained 0.4 percent, while Malaysia rose <.KLSE> 1 percent. The Philippines <.PSI> and Vietnam <.VNI> gained 2.1 percent and 1.7 percent respectively.

But Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> fell 0.4 percent, led by banking shares, with top lender DBS Group falling 1.5 percent and United Overseas Bank 1.9 percent.

Malaysia <.KLSE> rose, led by Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) with a 1.8 percent gain after the country's top lender posted a 35 percent rise in net profit a day earlier.

FCPO Daily: Holding ground

Market was holding ground to stay above 2500 levels in rangy mode. Thus, market may extend its sideways to higher move in near term. To the upside, immediate resistance is pegged at 2570-2572 (gap left over at 12/1/2010) followed by 2600-2605 levels. To the downside, immediate support is lies at 2542-2523 (gap left over on 8/2/2010) followed by 2480 levels.

CBOT Soyoil Daily: Facing some resistance

Market looks is facing some resistance at Usc39.11-39.18. Violation of it may provide more room to bias upside potential. To the downside, support is pegged at Usc38.00

FKLI Daily: remains Weak

Market momentum remains weak despite prices rebounded and recovered slightly. As for now, we are looking for the upside resistance and downside support at 1251-1260 (gap left over since 5/2/2010) and 1200 levels respectively.

Breaking News-RTRS-POLL-Malaysia's Jan palm oil stocks easing from 13-mth top

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Malaysia's palm oil stocks in
January likely dropped 11.7 percent from a 13-month high hit in
the previous month on strong exports and much lower output, a
Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.
Stocks fell to 1.976 million tonnes in Malaysia, the world's
No. 2 producer of the vegetable oil, going below 2 million tonnes
for the first time in two months, a poll of five plantation
houses showed.

Breaking News-RTRS-BRIEF-Malaysia IOI sees palm oil price hitting 3,000 rgt

Feb 9 (Reuters) -IOI CORP: * Malaysia's IOI Corp chairman says sees crude palm oil prices at 2,800-3,000 rgt a tonne for 2010 * Malaysia's IOI Corp chairman says profit outlook good if prices stabilise around current levels * "The prospects are good, demand is there because some of the countries, such as India and China, their economies have already stabilised," IOI Corp executive chairman Lee Shin Cheng told reporters when asked about the price outlook for crude palm oil. * "I expect it (crude palm oil price) to increase to 2,800 ringgit and eventually up to 3,000 ringgit," said Lee.

Breaking News-RTRS-Biodiesel to cut Argentine soyoil sales -Oil World

HAMBURG, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Increasing Argentine domestic biodiesel use will cut the country's soyoil exports in 2010, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World forecast on Tuesday.
If Argentine government plans for 5 percent biodiesel content in fossil diesel are implemented, coupled with compulsory use of biodiesel for electricity generation, this would create annual demand for 860,000 tonnes of biodiesel, largely made from soyoil, Oil World estimates.

Trader's Highlight

DJINEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Dow posted its largest one-day percentage gain in three months on Tuesday, boosted by reports of an aid plan for heavily indebted Greece.

A senior German ruling coalition source said euro zone governments have decided in principle to help Greece, which calmed investors worried about a threat to global economic stability.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures stayed up in post-settlement trading on Tuesday even though an industry report showed that domestic crude stocks rose much more than expected last week.

Heating oil futures also held on to hefty gains, despite data from the American Petroleum Institute that showed distillate stocks fell less than expected.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude last traded up $1.93, or 2.68 percent, at $73.82 a barrel. It had settled up $1.86, or 2.59 percent, at $73.75, trading from $71.32 to $74.15. In two straight days, contract has gained $2.56, or 3.6 percent.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March down 5 cents at $9.24-1/2 a bushel. Turned lower on farmer selling and expectations of large South American soy crops. Early strength stemmed from USDA trimming its forecast for 2009/10 U.S. soy ending stocks and a weaker dollar.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.43 cent at 38.38 cents a lb. Rally in crude oil offsets pressure from declines in soybeans.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose as much as 0.8 percent to a new four-week intraday high on Tuesday and closed just off that level, on talk of higher February 1-10 palm oil exports due out on Wednesday, traders said.

There was speculation that cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Service may report Feb. 1-10 exports of 400,000 tonnes, against 351,818 tonnes shipped between Jan. 1-10, traders said.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks jumped 1.9 percent on Tuesday but other Southeast Asian stock markets fell due to worries over the euro zone's debt problems and the implications for the global economic recovery.

Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> hit its highest close since Jan. 29, led by a 2.7 percent rise in the biggest telephone firm, Singapore Telecom , and a 3 percent rise in United Overseas Bank . Singapore Telecom posted an 18 percent increase in underlying third-quarter net profit, in line with analysts' forecasts.

Malaysia <.KLSE>, which fell 0.9 percent in early trade, recovered to close just 0.1 percent down, with Public Bank leading the fall, losing 1.8 percent.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Dow industrials closed below 10,000 for the first time since November on Monday as investors sold bank shares due to heightened concerns about the euro zone's sovereign debt troubles.

Bank of America shares lost more than 3 percent, while JPMorgan slipped 1.6 percent, and Citigroup shed 2.2 percent.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose almost 1 percent on Monday as cold weather, a weaker dollar and jitters over geopolitical risks combined to snap a three-session losing streak.

It was an "inside day" for crude futures, a trading pattern in which session highs and lows are within the previous session's range.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled up 70 cents, or 0.98 percent, at $71.89 a barrel, trading from $70.77 to $72.39.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 16 cents at $9.29-1/2 a bushel. Rallied to 1-1/2 week high on short-covering amid oversold technicals ahead of USDA's February supply/demand report on Tuesday. Weak dollar and firm crude oil also lend support.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.95 cents at 37.95 cents per lb. Technical bounce and following soy and crude oil. Expectations of increased soyoil use for biodiesel under U.S. renewable fuel plan add support.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose as much as 1.7 percent to a four-week intraday high before finishing slightly off the high, underpinned by a rebound in crude oil and rival soy prices, traders said.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Major Southeast Asian stock
markets fell on Monday due to growing worries over the euro zone's debt problems and the prospect of further turbulence on world markets, but Singapore bucked the trend.

At a weekend meeting, European ministers tried to reassure their counterparts in the Group of Seven that the euro zone's debt crisis was under control and that Greece would stick to its budget-cutting plan.

Malaysia <.KLSE> lost 1 percent to hit a three-month low, Indonesia <.JKSE> eased 1.72 percent, hitting a six-week low, and the Philippines <.PSI> fell 0.3 percent to its lowest close since Sept. 23.

But Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> gained 0.4 percent -- recovering from a three-month low after falling 1 percent during the session -- led by a 1.7 percent gain in Singapore Telecom and 1.6 percent in bank DBS .

Breaking News-RTRS-UPDATE 1-Indonesia says to limit palm oil exports in 2015

JAKARTA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's number one palm oil producer, plans to limit exports of the tropical oil to encourage the development of higher-value, refined products, the industry minister said on Monday.
Palm oil exports will be limited to not more than 50 percent of output in 2015, and to 30 percent of output in 2020, the minister said.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has forecast that exports will rise 16 percent this year to 18 million tonnes, following a 12 percent increase last year.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks erased a midday drop to end slightly higher on Friday, closing out a volatile week punctuated by mixed signals from the labor market data and growing anxiety over fiscal problems in Europe.

Major indexes turned positive heading into the close, as investors scooped up shares in the technology and materials sectors -- two of the worst performers during the market's latest pullback.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended at a seven-week low on Friday, down for a third day in a row, as a surging dollar and worries about the U.S. labor market after a mixed government jobs report combined to pressure energy
futures.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled down $1.95, or 2.67 percent, at $71.19 a barrel, trading from $73.94 to $69.50, lowest since the Dec. 15
intraday low of $69.31.

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

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March down 1/2 cent at $9.13-1/2 per bushel. Pressure from firm dollar, lower equities, lower crude oil and outlooks for record large South American soy production limits gains.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March down 0.21 cent at 37.00 cents per lb. Downturn in crude oil pressures soyoil. Unwinding of oil/meal spreads weighs on soyoil and lifts soymeal.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures inched up 0.4 percent on Friday on expectations of postive export growth figures next weak although gains were limited by the rising dollar.

Sentiment was still weak after the dollar index, a measure of the greenback's performance against major global currencies, hit the highest in seven months on mounting concerns about south European countries's fiscal woes.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell
on Friday as growing concern about debt problems in Europe and U.S. job data triggered broad selling in regional heavyweights, pulling indexes in Singapore and Malaysia to three-month lows.

Singapore's stock index <.FTSTI> dropped 2.2 percent to its lowest since Nov. 9, with the biggest firm, Singapore Telecoms , off 2.7 percent, while Malaysia's index <.KLSE> lost 1.4 percent as Malayan Banking fell 1.2 percent.

Breaking News-RTRS-FACTBOX-EPA sets 2010 U.S. renewable fuel standard

Feb 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that ethanol and other renewable fuels must account for 8.25 percent of total gasoline and diesel sales in 2010 to meet Congress' mandate that nearly 13 billion gallons (49.2 billion litres) of renewable fuels be produced this year.
That is lower than last year's 10.21 percent renewable fuel standard that the EPA announced in November 2008.
These rules are separate from the amount of ethanol the EPA now allows to be blended into each gallon of gasoline, which is in most cases 10 percent.

Breaking News-RTRS-US soy oil stocks 3.028 bln lbs in December - Census

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. soybean oil stocks
totaled 3.028 billion lbs in December, compared to 2.886
billion lbs in November, the U.S. Census Bureau said on
Thursday.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Dow briefly fell below the crucial 10,000 mark on Thursday as stocks suffered their worst losses in more than nine months.

Escalating sovereign debt problems in Europe and an unexpected rise in jobless claims put investors on the defensive just ahead of Friday's crucial payrolls report.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended 5 percent lower on Thursday, posting the steepest one-day percentage loss since July, due to a stronger dollar and weak U.S. oil demand that raised more worries about the sluggish economic recovery. Heating oil and gasoline futures finished sharply lower with crude.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled down $3.84, or 4.99 pct, at $73.14 a barrel, trading from $72.42 to $77.17.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 6 cents at $9.14 per bushel. Support from oversold technical signals that led to late short-covering. Gains limited by firm dollar, prospects for huge South American soy crops and a sell-off in energies and metals.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.31 cent at 37.21 cents per lb. EPA ruling on Wednesday on renewable fuels standard was supportive for soyoil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Palm oil futures edged 0.5 percent higher on Thursday as strong technicals slightly offset concerns of high stocks in Malaysia, the world's second largest producer of the vegetable oil.

Palm oil is the best performing vegetable oil so far this year, falling 5.7 percent compared to a drop of 7.3 percent in U.S. soyoil and a decline of 8.8 percent in the most-active soybean oil contract on China's Dalian commodity exchange.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Major Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday as investors worried about U.S. job data and booked quick profits after a brief rally this week, with Singapore banking shares and Thai energy stocks leading the way.

The Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> ended down 0.7 percent, led by a 2.1 percent drop in top lender DBS Group Holdings and 2.8 percent loss in the biggest developer, CapitaLand .

Malaysia <.KLSE> lost 0.2 percent and Indonesia <.JKSE> eased 0.4 percent, retreating from a 1 percent gain on Wednesday, although Indonesia's central bank played down market worries over inflation, signalling it was in no hurry to raise interest rates

FCPO Daily: More strength is still needed

Market close to stayed firm at above 2500 had helped to gain a little ground. However, more strength is still needed in order to change the immediate technical landscape to look positively. Thus, we continue to look for the immediate support at 2475-2462 (gap left over on 3/2/2010) followed by 2400-2393. While, upside resistance is pegged 2520-2540.

NYMEX Crude Daily: Consolidation

A sharp decline of more than USD3 had wipe off the earlier effort. Thus, consolidate mode likely to continue in near term and market may trade in between USD78 to USD72.40. Violation of either way may provide us a more clearer market direction.

DJI Daily: Dark Cloud Covered

Dark cloud covered following prices violated the underline support at 10,000 mark. Hence, it may provide more room to bias downside potential in near term market. Next support will be looking at 9930-9850 followed by 9680. While, upside resistance is pegged at 10,300 levels.

FKLI Daily: Facing resistance

Market is facing some resistance at 1270 levels and looks may cover the downside gap left over at 1260-1259.5. Thus, market likely to move sideways to bias downside potential in near term. To the upside, resistance is pegged at 1270-1271 and support is lies at 1260-1259.5 followed by 1250 levels.

Breaking News-RTRS-Informa sees Brazil soy crop at 66.5 million T

CHICAGO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Analytical firm Informa Economics estimated Brazil's 2009/10 soybean production at 66.5 million tonnes and Argentina's soy crop at 54.0 million tonnes, trade sources said on Wednesday.
Informa pegged Brazilian corn production for 2009/10 at 53.3 million tonnes, and Argentine corn production at 18.2 million tonnes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture last month projected Brazil's soybean crop at 65.0 million tonnes and Argentina's soy crop at 53.0 million. USDA put Brazil's corn crop at 51.0 million and Argentina's at 15.0 million.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks mostly fell on Wednesday as Pfizer's disappointing outlook weighed on the health sector, and President Obama's pledge to complete banking and healthcare reform revived fears of increased regulation.

President Barack Obama reiterated his commitment to overhaul the healthcare system and impose stricter regulatory reforms on Wall Street, underscoring the political risk that has driven U.S. stocks lower in recent weeks.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Wednesday, with volatility heating up near the close, as a larger-than-expected build in crude stocks overwhelmed support from a surprise drawdown in gasoline stocks.

Poor demand for products, despite product drawdowns and recent frigid weather in much of the United States, remained a big drag for energy futures, traders said.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled down 25 cents, or 0.32 percent, at $76.98 a barrel, trading from $76.52 to $78.04.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March down 17-1/2 cents at $9.08 a bushel. Fell to day's low after traders said Informa Economics increased its forecast for South American soy production. Outlooks for bumper South American soybean production and overall abundant supply of global oilseeds weigh on prices.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March down 0.57 cent at 36.90 cents per lb.Weakness in soy complex weighs.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose 1.9 percent on Wednesday, led by the rally in crude oil, which posted its biggest percentage gain in four months on Tuesday and also lifted other vegetable oil markets.

Palm oil has performed slightly better than other rival vegetable oils so far this year, falling just 6.5 percent compared to U.S. soyoil's 8 percent drop and declines of up to 8.5 percent in China's Dalian soybean oil.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks gained 1.6 percent on Wednesday, ending a three-day losing streak and leading other Southeast Asian stock markets higher amid improving sentiment in U.S. stocks after upbeat economic data there.

The Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> was pushed up by buying in recently depressed big-caps, with top lender DBS Group up 3 percent, commodities firm Golden Agri up 4 percent and Ezra Holdings up 10 percent.

The Thai stock index <.SETI> gained nearly 2 percent, Malaysia <.KLSE> 0.3 percent, Indonesia <.JKSE> 1 percent, the Philippines <.PSI> 0.7 percent and Vietnam <.VNI> 1.6 percent.

Gainers in Kuala Lumpur were led by a 2.2 percent climb in shipper MISC and a 1.8 percent rise in telecoms firm Axiata Group .