The Star Online (13/12/2018) - KUALA LUMPUR: The following factors are likely to influence Malaysian palm oil futures and other vegetable oil markets on Thursday Dec 13.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Malaysian palm oil futures ended higher on Wednesday, buoyed by gains in soyoil on the U.S. Chicago Board of Trade after President Donald Trump said China was back in the market buying U.S. beans.

* U.S. soybean futures hit a 4-1/2-month high on Wednesday as China bought U.S. soybeans for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in early December.

* Oil ended lower on Wednesday after reports that Iran's oil minister said divisions exist within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, leading futures to give up earlier gains on OPEC-led production curbs and export cuts from Libya.

MARKET NEWS

* Asian shares and the pound moved higher on Thursday as investors breathed a sigh of relief after British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a no-confidence vote, and as China appeared to be taking more steps to meet U.S. demands to open its markets.

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DATA/EVENTS

Cargo surveyor AmSpec releases Malaysia's Dec 1-15 palm oil export data on Dec 15.

Cargo surveyor SGS releases Malaysia's Dec 1-15 palm oil export data on Dec 15. - Reuters