Malaysian palm oil futures rose for the third consecutive session on Tuesday, helped by short coverings and strength in Chicago soyoil after trading sideways earlier in the day. The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange gained 41 ringgit, or 0.96%, to 4,308 ringgit ($906.57) a metric ton at closing. Strength in Chicago soyoil and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil and a weaker ringgit are also lending support to the contract, the trader said. WTI crude futures for May rose $1.30, or about 1.6%, to $85.01. A stronger crude oil makes palm oil more attractive for biodiesel feedstock. India’s palm oil imports hit a ten-month low in March at 481,000 tons, as the top vegetable oil buyer increased sunflower oil imports amid lower prices traders said. Palm oil is affected by price movements in related oils as they compete for a share of the global vegetable oils market.