Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks stormed higher in a late rally on Friday to cap another volatile week as investors welcomed reports that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his point person to combat the U.S. economic crisis, instilling confidence about the administration's ability to
take action.

Markets shot higher around 3 p.m. when NBC news reported that Timothy Geithner, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, would be nominated as U.S. Treasury secretary, driving the Dow and the S&P up more than 6 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> jumped 494.13 points, or 6.54 percent, to 8,046.42. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> shot up 47.59 points, or 6.32 percent, at 800.03. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 68.23 points, or
5.18 percent, to 1,384.35.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended higher on Friday, rebounding from 3-1/2 year lows hit on Thursday, as they tracked rising U.S. equities and refined product futures surged after heavy losses the day before.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, new front-month January crude settled up 51 cents, or 1.03 percent, at $49.93 a barrel. It traded from $48.25 -- lowest since prices fell to $48.05 on May 23, 2005 -- to $51.12.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January down 16 cents at $8.40. Soybeans fall with tumbling corn. Demand concerns amid struggling global economy overhanging the market as earlier rebounds in crude oil and stock markets stumble.

Dry soils force Argentine farmers to halt soy sowing this week in many parts of the farming belt, the Agriculture Secretariat said.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December up 0.07 cent at 30.70 cents per lb. Bounces from earlier lows as crude oil rebounds. Lower soybeans weigh.

China soyoil seen strong next week amid robust demand; more imports arrive for reserves

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Asian vegetable oil markets clawed back some losses on Friday as oil prices rose towards $50 a barrel but fears that a deepening global recession was eating into food and fuel demand kept investors cautious.

Malaysian crude palm oil futures <0#KPO:> ended slightly lower after falling sharply while soyoil contracts <0#DBY:> on Dalian Commodity Exchange settled down 2.1 percent.

The benchmark February palm contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange ended down 8 ringgit at 1,460 ringgit ($403) after going as low as 1,386 ringgit.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets ended mixed on Friday, with Singapore climbing nearly three percent on buying of financials such as UOB and DBS Group in reaction to a government stimulus package.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> closed up 2.98 percent, snapping four days of falls.Other Asian markets rebounded from a five-year low on Friday
as a variety of rumours, such as China cutting interest rates, prompted investors to cover short positions before the weekend.

Malaysian shares <.KLSE> ended a three-day losing streak to inch up 0.18 percent. Thai shares <.SETI> gained 0.9 percent. Indonesian shares <.JKSE> drifted 0.75 percent lower, recovering from a 4.5 percent fall earlier, after the central
bank pledged to respect the free movement of capital.