Palm | Kelapa Sawit

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday in the quietest session of the year on speculation that the Federal Reserve would signal potential steps to boost the sluggish economic recovery.

Volume was a mere 5.71 billion shares, compared with last year's estimated daily volume of 9.65 billion shares, as investors were wary of taking new positions before the Fed's statement on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 45.19 points, or 0.42 percent, at 10,698.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 6.15 points, or 0.55 percent, at 1,127.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 17.22 points, or 0.75percent, at 2,305.69.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended higher for the first time in four sessions on Monday as traders speculated that the Federal Reserve was poised to add liquidity to bolster a sputtering economic recovery and weekly inventory data would show a decline in domestic crude stocks.

Oil futures moved in line with a slight rise in equities, where investors speculated about the Fed action on Tuesday afternoon, when it will issue a statement.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude settled up 78 cents, or 1.0 percent, at $81.48 a barrel, trading from $80.71 to $81.76.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - August down 10-1/2 cents at $10.48-1/2 per bushel; new-crop November up 1-1/2 cents at $10.35. Soybean futures were mixed, with nearby contracts weak but new-crop months buoyed by strong demand from top buyer China.

CBOT-SOYOIL - August up 0.33 cent at 41.72 cents per lb. Gains in crude oil supportive, along with soyoil/soymeal spreading.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Malaysia crude palm oil futures soared on Monday to hit over one-year highs on strong demand from China and concerns that dry weather in the United States may stunt oilseed rival soybean crops.

Hot weather and below-normal rains in the U.S. Delta and southern Midwest this week will continue to stress the soybean crop, with favourable conditions expected across the northern and western Midwest.

The benchmark October crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivative Exchange ended 70 ringgit or 2.6 percent higher at 2,731 ringgit ($867.8) a tonne after trading as high as 2,736 ringgit, a level not seen since May 15 last year. Overall traded volume more than doubled to 24,644 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Thai stocks ended flat on Monday after profit-taking but Indonesia rose again and other Southeast Asian stock markets generally edged higher amid expectations of further Federal Reserve help for the U.S. economy.

Weaker-than-expected U.S. job data for July fanned speculation the Fed may send a clear signal when it meets on Tuesday that it is prepared to print more money to counter renewed economic weakness.

Malaysia <.KLSE> was flat, taking a breather after last week's rise to a 2-1/2-year high. Singapore, shut on Monday, hit a two-year high early last week.