The benchmark palm oil contract for August delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed down 157 ringgit, or 3.52%, at 4,300 ringgit ($1,039.65) a tonne, its biggest one-day percentage fall in seven weeks.
The benchmark palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange finished up 166 ringgit, or 4.1%, to 4,210 ringgit ($1,021.84) a tonne.
"Demand is better, with palm being the cheapest vis-a-vis other competing oils. Thus, we anticipate prices to remain both defensive and firmer," he added.
The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 25 ringgit, or 0.68%, to 3,675 ringgit ($888.97) a tonne by the midday break, after falling 3% in the previous session.
Prices of rival soybeans rose to their highest in nearly a month on Thursday after the US Department of Agriculture's planting intentions report pegged soybean acreage well below expectations.
Meanwhile, Dalian's most-active soyoil contract slumped 3.45% and its palm oil contract lost 2.06%. Soyoil prices on the Chicago Board of Trade rebounded with a 0.67%.
The benchmark palm oil contract for June delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange dropped 4.6% to 3,574 ringgit ($861.41) a tonne at closing time, the lowest closing level since Feb. 22.
Palm oil tracked rival soyoil down as soy was pressured by an upbeat planting outlook in the U.S, a palm oil trader in Kuala Lumpur said.