26/07/2013 (The Star) - The following factors are likely to influence Malaysian palm oil futures and other vegetable oil markets.

FUNDAMENTALS
* Malaysian palm oil futures dropped to their lowest in more than four years on Thursday, as the market expected global edible oil supplies to rise with a boost in soybean yields.
* Oil prices inched higher in quiet trade on Thursday with help from a slightly weaker dollar, while gasoline futures dropped nearly 4 cents per gallon, dragged down by a rapid plunge in the cost of ethanol credits.

MARKET NEWS
* The dollar and global equity markets fell on Thursday after mixed corporate earnings and renewed worries about growth in China weighed on investor sentiment, but a 30 percent jump in Facebook Inc shares lifted U.S. stocks from the doldrums.
* U.S. soybeans fell nearly 3 percent to their lowest level in over a year on Thursday, and soymeal dropped its daily trading limit of $20 per ton for the second day in a row on falling cash markets.
* U.S soybean prices hit two-month lows on Thursday and soymeal futures again dropped by their daily trading limit as a giant crop loomed, while raw sugar rebounded after mill shutdowns in Brazil.

RELATED NEWS
> Malaysia's July 1-25 palm oil exports down 6 pct-SGS
> Malaysia's July 1-25 palm oil exports down 7 pct-ITS
> US soy at 13-mth low, soymeal down daily limit
> Bunge looks to next harvests after earnings sink
> U.S. ethanol credit market senses shift on RFS next year
> Algeria set to extend duty suspension on maize, soy
> Smaller cocoa supply deficit expected, outlook shaky
> CBOT soymeal trade limits will not expand despite limit-down move

 DATA/EVENTS
> Cargo surveyors Intertek Testing