Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar slumped to near one-year lows on Wednesday, helping lift global stocks and commodities, as fresh U.S. data spurred optimism about an economic recovery and eroded demand for safe-haven assets.

Most prices for U.S. and euro zone government debt fell after a second day of surprisingly strong U.S. economic data fueled expectations of a robust recovery from the worst global downturn since World War Two.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed up 108.30 points, or 1.12 percent, at 9,791.71. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 16.13 points, or 1.53 percent, at 1,068.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 30.51 points, or 1.45 percent, at 2,133.15.

A Reuters poll of economists in the United States and Europe released on Wednesday forecast strong U.S. economic growth in the current quarter after four quarters of decline. The poll put growth at a 3 percent annual rate, significantly higher than the 2.4 percent growth rate in the August poll.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rallied to above $72 and closed more than 2 percent higher on Wednesday, after government data showed that domestic crude inventories fell more than expected last week, against an industry report on Tuesday that supplies rose.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude settled up $1.58, or 2.23 percent, at $72.51 a barrel, trading from $70.14 to $72.56.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November down 9-1/2 cents at $9.50-1/2 per bushel. Profit-taking after big gains on Tuesday as some forecasts showed a diminished threat of frost next week in the U.S. Midwest. Additional pressure from stepped-up farmer selling. Soy rallied Tuesday on a freeze threat for next week.
Declines limited by weak dollar, firm crude oil and gains in equities.

CBOT-SOYOIL - October down 0.05 at 34.38 cents per lb, December down 0.04 at 34.78. Following soybeans. Upturn in crude oil lends underlying support.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures jumped 4.4 percent on Wednesday, their biggest one-day rise in more than six weeks, as investors covered short positions ahead of a long holiday weekend, traders said.

The benchmark December contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivative Exchange rose 91 ringgit to 2,181 ringgit ($626.72) a tonne. Overall volume was more than double the usual at 24,932 lots of 25 tonnes each. The exchange will be closed on Sept. 21-22 for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Wednesday, buoyed by hopes for economic recovery, with Singapore outperforming as its property shares rallied after steep falls earlier in the week.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) <.FTSTI> climbed 1.4 percent, with DBS Group , Southeast Asia's biggest lender, up 2 percent.

Thailand's index <.SETI> gained 1 percent, Malaysia's index <.KLSE> rose 0.5 percent to its highest since June 2008 and Indonesia's index <.JKSE> ended up 0.8 percent at its highest since May 2008.

In Kuala Lumpur, gainers included Proton , which surged 12 percent on continued market speculation that Malaysian billionaire Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary may be interested in acquiring a controlling stake in the national car maker.