Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Friday on hopes that a lifeline for struggling U.S. automakers could still materialize, while investors bet the large stockpiles in cash at technology companies will help them weather the economic downturn.

In the latest in the U.S. automakers' attempt to secure a financial rescue, the White House said it could be willing to provide emergency funding to the struggling auto industry, the day after Congress failed to approve a deal.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 64.59 points, or 0.75 percent, to end at 8,629.68. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 6.14 points, or 0.70 percent, to 879.73. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> jumped 32.84 points, or 2.18 percent, to 1,540.72.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Friday, moving down with Wall Street, amid worries over whether the government will come up with a rescue package for troubled U.S. automakers.

In volatile trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, January crude settled down $1.70, or 3.54 percent, at $46.28 a barrel, snuffing a two-day rally. It traded from $43.32 to $47.51.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January down 2-1/2 cents at $8.54 a bushel. Lower on outlooks for more U.S. soy acres in 2009, falling crude and precious metals.

Underpinned by dry weather concerns in South America, especially in Argentina, and China's voracious appetite for U.S. soybeans.

National Oilseed Processors Association issue monthly crush data on Monday.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December expired 0.36 cent lower at 31.10 cents per lb. January down 0.80 cent per lb at 30.92 cents. Pressured by falling crude oil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm futures tumbled 3.8 percent on Friday in a commodities sell-off after the U.S. failed to pass a deal to bail out automakers and record inventories.

The benchmark February palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange settled down 63 ringgit at 1,581 ringgit ($442) after going as low as 1,567 ringgit.

Other traded contracts fell between 11 ringgit and 63 ringgit. Overall volume was 10,242 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets mostly fell on Friday after the failure of talks on a bailout for U.S. car firms, with Singapore dropping for a second day as blue chip financials led decliners.

Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> fell for a second day to end 3 percent lower.But Thai stocks <.SETI> reversed a 2.6 percent fall to end up 0.04 percent as investors bet opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva would be elected prime minister on Monday, helping restore confidence.

Indonesian stocks <.JKSE> closed down 4.08 percent. In Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia's best performer this year, the main index dropped 0.98 percent on Friday, with decliners led by a 2.5 percent fall in Tenaga Nasional .