Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slid more than 3 percent on Monday after weak results from Bank of America reignited concerns over the state of the banking industry and the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 289.60 points, or 3.56 percent, to 7,841.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> tumbled 37.21 points, or 4.28 percent, to 832.39. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> fell 64.86 points, or 3.88 percent, to 1,608.21.

Fueling more bank concerns were comments from J.P. Morgan Securities, which said it estimates U.S. banks to incur $400 billion more in losses from the credit crisis and expects there will be a need for more capital for certain institutions.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended nearly 9 percent lower on Monday, pressured by economic concerns that caused a sharp drop on Wall Street and as the U.S. dollar rallied on safe-haven bids.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, May crude , which is expiring on Tuesday, settled down $4,45, or 8.84 percent, at $45.88 a barrel, trading from $45.50, the lowest since $43.62 was hit on March 16, to $50.31.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 32-1/2 cents per bushel at $10.18-1/2 per bushel.

Falling stock market, firm dollar and lower crude oil weighs on soy with market underpinned by big China soy buying and declining soy yields in South American harvest.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 1.32 cents per lb at 35.45 cents per lb.

Following soybeans as lower crude oil and falling stock market combined with firm dollar pressuring soyoil.

FCPO-JAKARTA, April 20 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm futures closed slightly firmer on Monday, giving up most of the day's gains, as the market consolidated after last week's supply tightness-inspired rally, traders said.

The benchmark July contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 11 ringgit, or 0.45 percent, to 2,446 ringgit ($673.83), after going as high as 2,501 ringgit and as low as 2,393 ringgit.

Other traded months rose between 5 and 41 ringgit <0#KPO:>. Overall volume was heavy at 18,303 lots of 25 tonnes each, nearly doubled the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 20 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks ended
mixed on Monday, with Singaporean banks retreating after adverse rating news while commodity-linked shares pushed the Thai market to three-month highs even though investors fled domestic sectors.

Malaysia <.KLSE> gained 0.3 percent, Indonesia <.JKSE> rose for a sixth day, up 1.7 percent, the Philippines <.PSI> lost 0.4 percent and Vietnam <.VNI> dropped 4.6 percent.