18/07/2013 (Reuters) -  The following factors are likely to influence Malaysian palm oil futures and other vegetable oil markets.

Fundamentals

·   Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Wednesday, as bargain hunters emerged after five straight days of losses, although optimism was subdued by rising oilseed supplies and weak export demand.

·   Brent crude inched higher on Wednesday while gasoline prices fell slightly after the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported further draws in American crude stockpiles and larger-than-expected increases in gasoline inventories.

·   Stock markets around the world rose on Wednesday and U.S. Treasuries yields slipped after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the timeline for the U.S. central bank to end its stimulus program was not set in stone.

·   U.S. corn prices fell 1.7 percent on Wednesday as weather models suggested the coming weeks could be rainier than previously thought in the grain belt, easing some fears about heat and dryness.

·   Commodity markets were mixed after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified to Congress, with gold and copper sliding more then 1 percent and crude oil prices maintaining the session's gains.