Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Gold scaled a record high on a weak dollar and global stocks jumped on Monday after better-than-expected U.S. home sales data and rosy economic news in the euro zone bolstered appetite for riskier assets.

The dollar slid after a Federal Reserve official affirmed expectations that U.S. interest rates would stay low for some time and data showing that sales of previously owned U.S. home rose to a more than 2-1/2-year high dampened the currency's safe-haven appeal.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 132.71 points, or 1.29 percent, to 10,450.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 14.85 points, or 1.36 percent, to 1,106.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 29.97 points, or 1.40 percent, to 2,176.01.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 23 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended slightly higher on Monday in choppy trading, supported by the weak dollar and expectations for economic growth even as concerns about demand and high inventories helped limit oil's rise.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, January crude edged up 9 cents, or 0.12 percent, to settle at $77.56 a barrel, trading from $77.15 to $79.92.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January down 4 cents at $10.42 a bushel. Retreated from 12-week high spot price as crude oil market pared its gains. Profit-taking and hedge-related selling as farmers try to lock in prices also added pressure. Earlier rally tied to robust export demand and dollar weakness.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December down 0.31 cent at 39.40 cents per lb. Backed off highs along with crude oil. Gaining versus soymeal on oil/meal spreading.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures jumped as much as 3.1 percent to a new 14-week high on Monday thanks to revived interest in commodity markets and fears that more rainy weather will curb output.

The benchmark February contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose by as much as 76 ringgit to 2,495 ringgit ($737.9) before settling at 2,486 ringgit a tonne.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Singapore's stock market climbed
to its highest in 15 months on Monday, pushed up by financials such as DBS and United Overseas Bank, while selling in big-cap banks and energy shares dragged Thailand down to two-week lows.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> ended up 1.3 percent at its highest since Aug. 18, 2008, with DBS Group , Southeast Asia's biggest lender, rising 2.2 percent and second-ranked United Overseas Bank 1.8 percent higher.

Malaysia <.KLSE>, which will also close on Friday for a national holiday, eased 0.3 percent, with telecoms firm Axiata Group sliding 1 percent and gaming group Genting declining 1.1 percent.