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DOW JONES-NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 advanced for a second day on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected consumer confidence data and hopes for further progress on a solution to Europe's fiscal mess bolstered sentiment.

However, in a sign investors are still nervous about the European debt crisis, defensive sectors such as utilities and consumer staples were among the best performers. The Nasdaq composite index also closed lower.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 32.62 points, or 0.28 percent, at 11,555.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 2.64 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,195.19. The Nasdaq composite index <.IXIC> was down 11.83 points, or 0.47 percent, at 2,515.51.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures pared gains in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after industry data showed that domestic crude inventories rose 3.4 million barrels last week, against the forecast for a small stock drawdown.

The dollar fell against the euro, encouraging buying of riskier assets such as oil and copper, on speculation the European Central Bank could lend money to the International Monetary Fund which could then help Italy deal with its debt troubles.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, U.S. crude for January settled at $99.79 a barrel, rising $1.58, or 1.61 percent, after trading between $97.23 to $100.15.

CBOT-SOYBEANS, Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed higher on bargain buying, a weak dollar, firm crude oil and gains in equities.

Traders said soybeans got a lift from increased optimism about the euro zone debt crisis but there was caution after Fitch Ratings warned that it may downgrade U.S. debt ratings.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Tuesday on concerns of slower demand, although prospects of erratic weather hurting production limited losses.

Traders shifted their focus from the euro zone debt crisis to prospects of weaker demand as refined palm oil products narrowed their discount to South American soyoil to $28 per tonne, the lowest in six months.

Benchmark February palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed 0.2 percent lower at 3,062 ringgit ($958) per tonne. Prices fell as low as 3,054, just a whisker away from a two-week low hit on Friday.

Traders are expecting a slow week as industry players attend the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference and Price Outlook 2012 on the island of Bali. Industry analysts, including Dorab Mistry and James Fry, present their views on Friday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-Nov 29 (Reuters) - Banking shares helped boost stock markets in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand on Tuesday on hopes for euro zone recovery but others fell as investors cautiously waited to see strong steps taken in Europe.

Optimism over euro zone recovery hopes has been eroding with investors stayed in the sidelines as Europe's finance ministers try to agree on how to bolster the European Financial Stability Facility bailout fund in a bid to stem contagion in bond markets.

Malaysia, which was closed on Monday for a holiday, saw financials AMMB Holdings Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd , considered proxies of the broader market, jumping 5 percent and 4.6 percent respectively.