The Star Online (29/12/2017) - KUALA LUMPUR: The following factors are likely to influence Malaysian palm oil futures and other vegetable oil markets on Friday Dec 29.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Malaysian palm oil futures charted their first decline in four days on Thursday evening, slipping from the previous session's one-week high, as ample supplies dented sentiment.

* Chicago soybean futures fell more than 1 percent and neared a four-month low Thursday on improving crop prospects in Brazil that could curb demand for U.S. soy exports, traders said.

* Oil prices edged up on Thursday, remaining near 2-1/2-year highs after data showed strong demand for crude imports in China and on increased U.S. refining activity that drew more crude
from inventories.

MARKET NEWS

* Asian markets were ending 2017 in a party mood on Friday after a year in which a concerted pick-up in global growth boosted corporate profits and commodity prices, while benign inflation
kept central banks from taking away the punch bowl.

RELATED

 Indonesia sets January cocoa and CPO export tax at zero

 Light CBOT January soy deliveries seen for Friday

 Argentine grains port workers start 48-hour strike over safety

 Egypt's GASC says buys 180,000 T Russian wheat

DATA/EVENTS

 Cargo surveyor ITS releases Malaysia's Dec 1-31 palm oil export data on Jan 2.
 Cargo surveyor SGS releases Malaysia's Dec 1-31 palm oil export data on Jan 2.
- Reuters