Palm | Kelapa Sawit

DJI-NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, pushing the Dow up near the 11,000 level, as signs of a turnaround in the U.S. labor market bolstered hopes the economy is strengthening and the profit outlook is brightening.

Shares of natural resources companies led the gains on expectations that an improving economy would drive up demand.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 46.48 points, or 0.43 percent, to end at 10,973.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 9.34 points, or 0.79 percent, to finish at 1,187.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shot up 26.95 points, or 1.12 percent, to 2,429.53.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended above $86 a barrel, the highest close in 18 months, as the market brimmed with optimism that economic recovery was taking hold in the wake of Friday's positive jobs report.

Fresh economic data on Monday, when trading resumed after a long holiday weekend, showed an unexpected rise in February pending home sales and an improved gauge of the services sector in March, adding more bounce for oil.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude settled up $1.75, or 2.06 percent, at $86.62 a barrel, the highest close since Oct. 8, 2008's $88.95. It traded from $85.06 to $86.90, highest intraday price since Oct. 9, 2008's $89.82.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 5 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 6 cents at $9.36 a bushel; November down 3-1/2 at $9.22-1/4. Choppy. Last week's resolution of Argentine port strike pressures market along with ongoing harvest of a huge South American soy crop.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May up 0.37 cent at 39.35 cents per lb. Gaining against soymeal on oil/meal spreading.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell 1.1 percent Monday as the stronger ringgit currency offset earlier crude oil-driven gains.

Commodities across the board were up on the weaker U.S. dollar but palm oil erased its gains made in the morning session as the Malaysian currency hit a 21-month high, chewing into refiner margins.

The benchmark June crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 29 ringgit to settle at 2,530 ringgit ($784.2) after rising as high as 2,588 ringgit.

Traded volume rose to 17,008 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual 10,000 lots, suggesting that traders were booking profits.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 5 (Reuters) - Indonesia's stock index <.JKSE> hit a record high on Monday on expectations the central bank would leave interest rates on hold this week, while Thailand ended higher despite mounting political protests in Bangkok.

Strong economic prospects continued to attract funds into the region, sending Singapore <.FTSTI> up 0.86 percent to a 23-month high and Malaysia <.KLSE> up 0.43 percent to a 25-month highs and helping Thailand <.SETI> reverse early losses.

In Singapore, property shares were among actively traded stocks as home prices continued to rise following reported record transactions in recent weeks, with City Development , and Fraser & Neave both rising over 1 percent.

In Kuala Lumpur, financials led advancers, with CIMB Group climbing 1.1 percent and Public Bank 1.7 percent.