Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 closed up for a third straight session on Friday after several solid consumer-related reports reinforced investors' confidence in a steady recovery by the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 65.67 points, or 0.63 percent, at 10,471.50. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 4.06 points, or 0.37 percent, at 1,106.41. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 0.55 point, or 0.03 percent, at 2,190.31.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended below $70 a barrel on Friday, hitting a two-month low and extending the market slump for the eighth straight day as a stronger dollar spurred selling.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, January crude settled down 67 cents, or 0.95 percent, at $69.87 a barrel, the lowest since the $69.57 close on Oct. 7. It traded from $69.46, lowest since the Oct. 8 intraday low of $69.17, to $71.20.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January up 8 cents at $10.35 per bushel. Spillover support from rally in corn, short-covering and supported by brisk exports of U.S. soy, especially to China.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December up 0.13 cent at 39.22 cents per lb; most-active January up 0.12 at 39.57.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose 0.4 percent on Friday, supported by higher soyoil and an unexpected fall in stocks.

The benchmark February contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended up 9 ringgit to 2,530 ringgit ($744.6).

REGIONAL Equity-BANGKOK, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Friday, with Thai stocks climbing to a one-week high on mainly local buying in recently depressed big caps such as PTT Exploration and Production and Advanced Info Service.

In Kuala Lumpur, the main index <.KLSE> inched up 0.01 percent, with Malayan Banking up 0.45 percent and Petronas Gas down 1 percent.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> gained 0.7 percent, reversing a fall of nearly 1 percent in the previous two sessions, with the largest telecoms firm, Singapore Telecommunications , and top lender DBS Group each rising 1.3 percent.