Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Monday on concerns the spreading of a new strain of flu could dampen optimism about the economy, overshadowing a sweeping overhaul of General Motors Corp and gains in biotechnology stocks.

The three major U.S. stock indexes slid in choppy trade as governments around the world moved to contain the spread of a swine flu outbreak that has killed up to 149 people in Mexico and spread to the United States and Canada.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 51.29 points, or 0.64 percent, to 8,025.00. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 8.72 points, or 1.01 percent, to 857.51. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed 14.88 points, or 0.88
percent, to 1,679.41.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Monday, eating up a large part of gains made on Friday, on concerns about the potential impact of a global swine flu outbreak on oil demand and a stronger dollar.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, June crude settled down $1.41, or 2.74 percent, at $50.14 a barrel, trading from $48.01 to $51.45.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - May down 35-1/2 cents at $10.04-3/4 per bushel.

Potential for cut in feed use by livestock industry if swine flu continues to spread, reducing meat production and weighing on soybean futures.

Trade expecting USDA late on Monday to show U.S. soybean seedings 3 percent, below five-year average of around 4 percent.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May down 0.80 cent at 35.54 cents per lb. Weighed down by swine flu jitters and lower crude oil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Reuters) - Asian vegetable oil markets slid on Monday as concerns spread over an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico reduced meat and grains demand.

Malaysian crude palm oil futures <0#KPO:> fell as much as 4.3 percent. U.S soyoil for May shipment fell 4.5 percent and the most-active September soyoil contract on Dalian's Commodity Exchange slid 4.9 percent in late Asian hours.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, April 27 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock
markets fell on Monday, with Singapore touching a near 3-week low and Malaysia snapping a three-day rally as investors worried about the impact of a growing swine flu outbreak.

The main Singapore index <.FTSTI> closed down 1.9 percent after earlier falling 3 percent to its lowest since April 8. Malaysia <.KLSE> dropped 1.3 percent after rising 3.8 percent over the past three days.

Indonesia <.JKSE> fell for a fifth day, down nearly 1 percent, while the Philippines <.PSI> eased 0.9 percent after a 1.7 percent rise on Friday.