RTRS:VEGOILS-Palm oil falls in light trade, U.S weather eyed
* Closed U.S. markets limit trading interest
* Traders eyeing weather developments in the United States
* Weak U.S. soybean yields may spur demand for palm oil
(Updates prices)
By Niluksi Koswanage
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures
fell 1.1 percent on Monday with few leads as U.S. markets were
shut for a holiday although investors feared hot and dry weather
might slash soy crop yields in the Midwest and spur demand for
the Asian edible oil.
Firm palm oil exports have given support to benchmark palm
oil futures that have lost about a fifth so far this year on
high stocks, concerns over global economic slowdown and volatile
financial markets.
"Palm oil traders are clearly watching for any developments
in the U.S. Midwest as worse weather could prompt buyers to look
at sourcing palm oil," said a trader with a foreign commodities
brokerage.
"We have ample palm oil stocks and in September there should
be a slight recovery in production."
The benchmark November crude palm oil contract FCPOc3
settled down 32 ringgit at 3,018 ringgit ($1,018.13)a tonne.
Traded volumes were still thin at 11,999 lots of 25 tonnes
each versus the usual 25,000 lots after markets opened from a
long holiday last week and amid weak interest since U.S. markets
were shut for a public holiday.
Technicals were neutral with Reuters analyst Wang Tao saying
the benchmark contract was hovering around a resistance of 3,056
ringgit per tonne.
Palm oil exports for August dipped from a month ago although
traders said this could cut into high stocks given lower
production last month as estate workers took leave for the Eid
holidays marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
"September will be interesting, we should see some slowdown
in exports and production should be better with the workers back
in the estates," said another Malaysian trader.
Brent crude oil fell below $111 a barrel on Monday, as
fears of another U.S. recession slowing fuel demand overshadowed
concerns that a tropical storm may shut down some U.S. offshore
oil production.
Lower crude oil limited gains for vegetable oil markets. The
most active May 2012 soy oil on China's Dalian Commodity
Exchange fell 0.2 percent.
Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 1107 GMT
Palm oil prices in Malaysian ringgit per tonne
CBOT soy oil in U.S. cents per pound
Dalian soy oil in Chinese yuan per tonne
Crude in U.S. dollars per barrel
($1 = 2.964 Malaysian Ringgit)