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DOW JONES-NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Banks led Wall Street to gains on Thursday even as Europe struggled again, a sign investors are betting a relatively strong U.S. economy will help U.S. stocks outperform other markets.

Overall gains were small, but banks advanced for a third day, supported by better-than-expected economic data. U.S. financial shares continued to delink from their European peers as investors see more potential for growth in U.S. lending that could offset worries about the euro zone debt crisis.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dipped 2.72 points, or 0.02 percent, to 12,415.70. The S&P 500 Index <.INX> gained 3.76 points, or 0.29 percent, to 1,281.05. The Nasdaq Composite <.IXIC> added 21.50 points, or 0.81 percent, to 2,669.86.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell on Thursday, ending an up-and-down session more than 1 percent lower as data showing oil stockpiles rose last week, and the stronger dollar helped offset ongoing anxiety about Iran and supply from Nigeria and Iraq.

Revived worries about the euro zone also pressured oil prices, and a failure of U.S. crude to move above the previous session's peak also contributed to a late price slide.

U.S. crude oil inventories rose 2.21 million barrels last week, according to the Energy Information Administration's report on Thursday. Gasoline stocks rose 2.48 million barrels and distillate stockpiles rose 3.22 million barrels, the EIA said.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February crude fell $1.41, or 1.37 percent, to settle at $101.81 a barrel, having traded from $101.30 to $103.73, with the day's low reached in post-settlement trading. Thursday's intraday peak was a penny under the high from Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEAN, Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell, ending a three-day rally as the dollar surged and forecasts called for much-needed rain in Argentine crop areas next week, traders said.

FCPO-SINGAPORE, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures slipped on Thursday on rekindled investor caution over the euro zone debt crisis, although weather concerns in oilseed growing regions limited losses.

A French bond auction due later in the day renewed jitters about the ability of euro zone countries to refinance their debt, a concern that drove palm oil prices down last year for their first annual loss since 2008.

Benchmark March palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed 1.1 percent lower to 3,190 ringgit ($1,000) per tonne.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets posted limited gains on Thursday as energy shares climbed in line with strength in oil, but renewed concerns about the euro zone debt crisis weighed on sentiment in late trade after European markets opened.

Leading the gainers, Malaysia's main index <.KLSE> edged up 0.68 percent. The Philippine index <.PSI> rose 0.69 percent to around five-month highs.

Stocks in Singapore <.FTSTI>, Indonesia <.JKSE> and Thailand <.SETI> erased early gains to end flat. The region saw light turnover, in the Philippines and Vietnam <.VNI> just half the 30-day avarage.

Energy shares were among brigh spots in the region, with Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd up 2.9 percent and Philippine power producer Aboitiz Power Corp up 2.7 percent.