*Soybeans firm as USDA confirms continued planting delays. PARIS/ SYDNEY, June 18- Chicago wheat futures rose on Tuesday as rain, which hampered harvesting and sowing in the United States, encouraged buyers to return after a two-month low at the end of last week.
NEW YORK, June 18- U.S. stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday, trading in a tight range ahead of the start of a highly anticipated Federal Reserve meeting.
*Market keeps an eye on standoff over Syria. LONDON, June 18- Brent crude futures eased towards $105 a barrel, falling from a 11- week high, as investors cautiously awaited guidance from the U.S. It rose to 106.67 on Monday, the highest since April 4, on mounting tensions in the Middle East.
LONDON, June 18- European stock index futures pointed to a lower start on Tuesday, as nervous investors fretted about a trimming of U.S. monetary stimulus in the run up to a Federal Reserve policy meeting. At 0602 GMT, futures for the Euro STOXX 50, Germany's DAX and France's CAC were down 0.3-0.4 percent. Futures on Britain's FTSE 100 were flat.
*Market keeps an eye on standoff over Syria. SINGAPORE, June 18- Brent crude futures were barely changed around $105, holding not far off their strongest level in 10 weeks on mounting tensions in the Middle East, as investors remain cautious ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting.
*NYMEX crude futures for July delivery had added 21 cents to $97.98 a barrel by 0030 GMT. *Production at Norway's Oseberg field and several adjunct fields in the North Sea was shut early on Monday and it was unclear when it would restart, its operator Statoil said on Monday.
NEW YORK, June 17- Brent crude oil futures touched a 10- week high close to $107 a barrel on Monday as tensions in the Middle East rose, but prices finished slightly lower on the day after a late sell-off in U.S. gasoline futures. Brent's premium over U.S. crude ended at $7.70, on the narrow end of the $7.50 to $10 range in which it has traded since early May.
Here's why this trader sees $100 oil around the corner.
*Smithfield up after shareholder urges break-up. NEW YORK, June 17- U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday after major equity indexes on Friday closed their third negative week in four, with traders focused on this week's Fed policy meeting.
SINGAPORE, June 17- Brent crude futures steadied around $106 a barrel on Monday after hitting more than two-month highs in the previous session, as worries over bulging U.S. inventories and soft global demand forecasts offset supply concerns tied to Middle East tensions.
President Barack Obama "essentially fired" Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in televised remarks this week, former Federal Reserve Governor Laurence Meyer says.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 6:00 PM ETHow to approach the Fed's monetary decision, with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2013 | 12:01 PM ETThe Federal Reserve won't change course on quantitative easing this week, Steve Weiss of Short Hills Capital says.