Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks jumped on Wednesday with the S&P 500 racking up its three best days since March, sparked by results from bellwether Intel Corp that lifted hopes for a rebound in technology spending and improved corporate profitability.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 256.72 points, or 3.07 percent, to 8,616.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 26.84 points, or 2.96 percent, to 932.68, its best gain in nearly two months and putting it solidly back into the black for the year. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> jumped 63.17 points, or 3.51 percent, to 1,862.90.

Minutes from last month's FOMC meeting showed central bank policy-makers thought economic growth would resume in the second half of the year, although the economy remained vulnerable.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, July 15 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures settled more than 3 percent higher on Wednesday as a government inventory report showing crude supplies fell last week, the dollar's weakness and strong equities combined to lift oil.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, August crude rose $2.02, or 3.39 percent, to settle at $61.54 a barrel, trading from $59.65 to $62. The $62 high was reached in Globex trading after the day's settlement was reached.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - August down 14 cents at $10.20-1/2 a bushel

Market turns lower as traders lock in profits following rallies this week. Good growing weather also weighs but good export demand and supportive outside markets limit downturn.

CBOT-SOYOIL - August up 0.35 cent at 34.12 cents per lb.Gains in crude oil lending spillover support to soyoil futures.

FCPO-JAKARTA, July 15 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures closed at its highest level in more than a week on Wednesday, boosted by higher exports, after posting the biggest day-gain in nearly three weeks, traders said.

The benchmark September contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange rose 67 ringgit, or 3.3 percent, to 2,103 ringgit ($590.456) per tonne, a level not seen since July 6. Volume totalled 19,251 lots of 25 tonnes each, almost double the
usual turnover.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, July 15 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets
edged higher on Wednesday as solid earnings from U.S. firms and an improving Asian economic outlook boosted confidence in a global recovery, sending Singapore and Malaysian shares to fresh highs.

Singapore's benchmark index <.FTSTI> rose 3.4 percent, with a blue chip shares rally taking it to a near five-week high and on buying in the last minutes of trading after a Reuters poll showed the country will see a sharp turnaround next year as the
continent rebounds

Malaysian stocks <.KLSE> edged 1.63 percent higher, having hit their highest level unseen since Aug. 15, 2008 earlier in the day, Philippine stocks <.PSI> closed up 0.95 percent at its highest since June 15, with Philippine Long Distance Telephone
leading the way with a 0.42 percent rise.