Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended higher on Wednesday, with dealers blaming erratic soyabean and bean oil prices for the lack of market direction.
The benchmark third-month contract, June, closed up six ringgit at 1,941 ringgit ($510.8) a tonne.
Other traded contracts were up between six and 10 ringgit.
Overall volume was 2,660 lots.
Dealers said market participants were generally cautious amid confusing signs from Chicago soyaoil futures.
"At the moment, we are more worried about the lack of direction in the soyabean and bean oil market. It's up one day and down the other and at levels no one is comfortable with," a dealer said.
In physical CPO trading, the April contract saw bids/offers at 2,005/2,010 ringgit a tonne in the southern region.
Trades were done at 2,005 and 2,010.
The April contract for the central region was bid/offered at 1,980/2,000. No trades were reported.
May saw bids/offers at 1,985/2,000 ringgit a tonne in the south and 1980/2000 in the central region. No deals were reported.
PALM OIL FUTURES:
April (south): 2010.
Open/High/Low: 1944/1946/1930.
Previous closes: 2010.
PALM OIL PHYSICALS:
June (3rd month): 1941.
Previous settlement: 1935.
FUTURES: Ends up, blames fluctuating soyaoil prices.
PHYSICALS: Quiet, range-bound.