Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks wavered and oil prices slipped on Monday as concerns about weak demand and fears that Washington's plans to heal the U.S. economy might prove insufficient turned markets lower.

Oil also turned lower late in the day as a weak outlook for U.S. fuel demand outweighed expectations Congress will pass an $800 billion economic recovery package and talk of supply cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed down 9.72 points, or 0.12 percent, at 8,270.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 1.29 points, or 0.15 percent, at 869.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 0.15 points, or 0.01 percent, at 1,591.56.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell in a late sell-off on Monday but were still mired in recent price ranges as the market awaited action by Washington on an economic package aimed at reviving the economy.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled down 61 cents, or 1.52 percent, at $39.56 a barrel, trading $39.42 to $42.43. The March contract low is $38.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 1 cent at $10.02 per bushel.

Market held mostly firm on worries about fate of drought-stricken Argentinian crop but midday forecasts were for wetter weather, a bearish market factor.

Heat and dryness in Argentina during the next 7-10 days to further stress corn, soybeans and sunflowers.Argentine soy crop seen at 40 million tonnes

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.83 cent at 34.23 cents a pound. Firm soy lent support.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended firm on Friday, but off 3-week highs notched earlier in the session as gains were curbed by falling crude markets and expectations of weaker exports.

The benchmark April contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 1 ringgit at 1,880 ringgit ($522.2) after hitting 1,908 ringgit level earlier in the day, a level unseen since Jan.13.

Other traded contracts were either marginally higher or lower <0#KPO:>. Overall volume shot up to to 16,985 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 9 (Reuters) Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> closed 1.92 percent down. Indonesia's main index <.JKSE> shed 0.6
percent, ending three days of gains.

Thailand and Malaysian stock markets were closed for holidays on Monday.