Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Wall Street had its worst day since the 1987 stock market crash on Wednesday, as bleak economic data fed worries that all the efforts to unlock credit markets may not stave off a severe recession.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke added to those concerns when he said the economy faced a "significant threat" from paralyzed credit markets.

Dismal monthly U.S. retail sales set the tone for the session, dropping the most in more than three years, while a measure of New York state manufacturing hit its lowest level since the index started in 2001.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> slid 733.08 points, or 7.87 percent, to 8,577.91, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> tumbled 90.17 points, or 9.03 percent, to 907.84.

The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> sank 150.68 points, or 8.47 percent, to 1,628.33.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Oct 15 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures deepened losses in post-settlement trading on Wednesday, extending the decline to 50 percent from the July record peak, as fears of a recession sparked more demand worries and fueled a sell-off in commodities and equities.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, November crude traded as low as $73.55 a barrel, down $5.08, or 6.46 percent, the lowest since $73.48 was struck on Sept. 4, 2007.It earlier settled down $4.09, or 5.2 percent, at $74.54. It posted the day's high at $79.17.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November down 38 cents at $8.58 per bushel,January down 38-3/4 at $8.72-1/2.

Spot price fell to a 13-1/2 month low as euphoria over government steps to rescue the banking industry replaced by recession concerns. Weak crude oil adds pressure.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December down 2.47 cents at 35.53 per lb.Following soybeans and crude oil lower. Losing ground to soymeal on meal/oil spreads.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Crude palm oil futures on Malaysia's derivatives
exchange ended 5.8% lower Wednesday on weak demand in the cash market, lower exports and spillover weakness from soyoil and crude oil.

The benchmark December contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended MYR107 lower at MYR1,743 a metric ton, the lowest closing price for a third-month contract in nearly two years.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-SINGAPORE, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian markets retreated from a two-day rally on concerns over company earnings and recession fears, while falling crude prices pushed energy-related stocks lower.

Renewed risk aversion surfaced around the world as investors worry that the global economy will not escape even after bank bailouts.

Malaysia <.KLSE> also lost 1.7 percent, while Indonesia<.JKSE> gave up 2.3 percent with losses led by banks. The Philippine index <.PSI> also fell 1.6 percent, but Vietnam <.VNI>bucked the trend to add 2 percent.

Singapore <.FTSTI> led fallers, falling 3.2 percent on banks and commodities, while Thailand <.SETI> slid 3.9 percent, further weighed by a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia.