Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slid on Tuesday as investors paused to reassess the likely success of the government's latest plans to clean up bank balance sheets and revive the financial system, a day after initial euphoria over
the plan drove huge gains.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 115.65 points, or 1.49 percent, at 7,660.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 16.59 points, or 2.02 percent, at 806.33. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 37.43 points, or
2.41 percent, at 1,518.34.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell back in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after industry group American Petroleum Institute said domestic crude stocks last week rose much more than analysts had forecast.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude at 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT), was down 42 cents, or 0.78 percent, at $53.38 a barrel. It had settled up 18 cents, or 0.33 percent, at $53.98, the highest settlement since Nov. 28 when it closed at $54.43. It traded from $52.45 to $54.20, a fresh intraday high for 2009 and the highest since $54.62 was struck on Dec. 1.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May up 11-1/2 cents at $9.67 per bushel.

Nearbys supported by Argentine farmer strike that is shifting soy export business to the United States and away from that South American country. Backs pressured by falling crude and Dow.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May up 0.17 cent per lb at 33.27 cents per lb. Gains in soy supportive in addition to commercial buying.

FCPO-JAKARTA, March 24 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures dropped 2.5 percent on Tuesday amid fears that a fall in exports might have steepened in the first 25 days of March on weak demand, traders said.

The benchmark June contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange dropped 50 ringgit to 1,980 ringgit ($547) per tonne.

Other traded months were lower, except for November which rose 0.6 percent. <0#KPO:>. Overall volume was 12,465 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, March 24 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock
markets rose on Tuesday, boosted by Washington's plan to clear the banking system of toxic assets, which spurred Wall Street's biggest gain since late October.

Singapore's stock index <.FTSTI> ended up 2.5 percent after touching a six-week high, adding to Monday's 4.2 percent surge. Indonesia's index <.JKSE> climbed 2.09 percent, touching its highest level in almost three months

Malaysian shares <.KLSE> drifted 0.04 percent lower, ending a five-day rally as investors dumped Sime Darby , down almost 1 percent after a drop in palm oil prices.