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DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed higher for a fourth straight day on Wednesday, sending the Standard & Poor's 500 index to its best finish so far this year as industrial and technology companies gained from a weak dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 49.88 points, or 0.53 percent, at 9,547.22. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 7.98 points, or 0.78 percent, at 1,033.37. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 22.62 points, or 1.11
percent, at 2,060.39.

The Federal Reserve's Beige Book survey showed half of Federal Reserve districts saw evidence the U.S. economy had improved by the end of August, but labor markets remained weak and retail sales were flat overall.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures headed higher in post-settlement trading on Wednesday, after industry data showed that domestic crude inventories fell much more than expected last week.

The American Petroleum Institute reported that crude stocks fell 7.2 million barrels to 336.3 million barrels in the week to Sept. 4, far more than the forecast in a Reuters poll for a 1.5 million barrel drawdown.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude at 5:05 p.m. EDT (2105 GMT), was up 61 cents, or 0.86 percent at $71.71 a barrel. Earlier, it had settled up 21 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $71.31, trading from $70.66 to $72.52, highest
intraday since $73.36 was reached on Aug. 31.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - September down 7-1/2 cents at $9.61-1/2 a bushel; November down 8 cents at $9.28-1/2.

Profit-taking following gains earlier in the week weighs on prices along with weak cash market. Traders expecting U.S. Agriculture Department to boost soy production forecast on Friday in crop report.

SOYOIL - September down 0.50 cent at 33.73 cents/lb. Setback from Tuesday's rally despite stronger crude oil. Meal/oil spreading weighs.

Traders taking positions ahead of U.S. Agriculture Department report on Friday morning, which is expected to show increase in production forecasts for corn and soybeans. Higher new-crop end stocks of wheat, corn and soybeans also expected.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures dropped 1.4 percent on Wednesday amid speculation that data due out on Thursday may show a big drop in palm oil exports during the first ten days of September, traders said.

The benchmark November contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivative Exchange settled down 31 ringgit at 2,179 ringgit ($623.64) a tonne. Overall volume was at 13,711 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Some Southeast Asian stock markets retreated on Wednesday as investors took profits on big caps such as Singapore's DBS and SingTel, but Thailand and Indonesia managed to end with gains.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> fell 0.4 percent, ending a four-day rally, with DBS Group , Southeast Asia's biggest lender, sliding 0.5 percent and top phone firm Singapore Telecommunications 1.9 percent lower.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE>, which climbed to a 14-month high earlier, ended down 0.5 percent, weighed down by a 4.2 percent fall in Genting and a 1.4 percent loss in group Genting Malaysia .

Selling in the casino operator followed Singapore-listed Genting Singapore's announcement of a plan to raise S$1.63 billion ($1.15 billion) in a rights issue. The firm requested a trading halt in its shares on the day.