Palm | Kelapa Sawit

DJI-NEW YORK, April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks edged lower on Monday as bank shares fell on fears that financial reform making its way through Congress will curb profits, while Caterpillar's strong results buoyed the Dow.

A proposal to overhaul financial regulation that could restrict lucrative derivatives trading was expected to face a crucial Senate test vote on Monday and weighed on financial shares.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> edged up 0.75 point, or 0.01 percent, to close at 11,205.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 5.23 points, or 0.43 percent, to 1,212.05. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 7.20 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,522.95.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures were lower in choppy trading early on Monday as the dollar strengthened in a sign of risk aversion.

The euro extended losses against the dollar after Germany's chancellor said Greece must commit to further savings measures before Germany can provide emergency aid.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT), June crude was down 50 cents, or 0.59 percent, at $84.62, trading from $84.53 to $85.63.

CBOT-CHICAGO, April 26 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 1-1/4 cents at $9.98-3/4 per bushel; new-crop November down 1-1/2 at $9.77-1/2. Profit taking, drop in crude oil weighs on prices after market rallies to $10.09-1/2 early in session.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 0.06 cent at 39.29 cents per lb. Palm oil ends up as fall in exports slows.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose 0.8 percent on Monday to a two-week high, tracking stronger soyoil and crude oil markets, after the latest trade data showed that a decline in Malaysia's palm oil exports slowed.

The benchmark July crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives gained 20 ringgit to 2,560 ringgit ($802.5) a tonne, off a high of 2,568 ringgit -- a level last seen on April 12. Overall traded volume rose to 13,447 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual level around 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 26 (Reuters) - Thai stocks gained over 1 percent on Monday as oil and resource shares recovered ahead of quarterly results, even though prolonged anti-government protests are raising concern about the economic recovery.

Economic optimism brought more fund inflows to the region, pushing Indonesia <.JKSE> to a record high, with Singapore <.FTSTI> and Malaysia <.KLSE> touching one-week highs. The Philippines <.PSI> rose 1.5 percent and Vietnam <.VNI> added 0.4 percent.

In Singapore, the index rose 0.5 percent, climbing to its highest since April 16. The city state's factory output grew by double-digits from a year ago as the trade-dependent economy continues its rebound from its worst ever-recession last year.

Commodities firms were among gainers, with Noble Group rising 0.33 percent and Wilmar International adding 1 percent.

In Kuala Lumpur, the index <.KLSE> inched up 0.25 percent, in line with the Malaysian ringgit on foreign buying of local assets fanned by optimism about the country's economic recovery.

Financial firm CIMB Group rose 0.7 percent and Malayan Banking was up 0.3 percent.