Trader's Highlight

DJI- NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 logged another 14-month high on Tuesday as stocks rallied on a surge in existing home sales, which indicated more stabilization in housing and boosted optimism about the economic recovery.

Housing stocks led the way up with the Dow Jones U.S. home construction index <.DJUSHB> up 3.9 percent following data that showed U.S. existing home sales rose in November at the fastest pace since February 2007.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 50.79 points, or 0.49 percent, to end at 10,464.93. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 3.97 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,118.02. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 15.01 points, or 0.67 percent, to close at 2,252.67.

NYMEX- NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures edged up in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after an industry group reported crude inventories fell more than expected last week.

Crude futures seesawed and then settled higher ahead of weekly oil inventory reports expected to show that crude and distillate stocks fell last week. The American Petroleum Institute in a report released Tuesday afternoon, said crude inventories fell 3.7 million barrels last week, despite imports rising 127,000 barrels per
day to 8.98 million bpd.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, front-month February crude rose 68 cents, or 0.92 percent, to settle at $74.40 a barrel, trading from $72.72 to $74.91. Crude ended Post-settlement Globex electronic trading ended up 74 cents at $74.46, but with the trading range unchanged.

CBOT- SOYBEANS - January down 10 cents at $9.91 a bushel. Prices drop for fourth straight day, closing at lowest level since Nov. 13 on technical selling, along with disappointing export inspections, a firmer dollar and favorable South American crop weather.

CBOT- SOYOIL - January down 0.23 cent at 38.05 cents per lb. Following soybeans lower.

FCPO- KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell for a second day on Tuesday on a firmer U.S. dollar, but the decline was slower compared to the day before due to expectations of a stock drawdown. The benchmark March contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended 40 ringgit lower at 2,515 ringgit ($732.4) in heavy trading.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Tuesday as buying interests in big caps spanned across the region, helping Singapore end a three-day losing streak and pushing the Thai index to its highest in two months.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> also reversed its three-day falls, closing up 0.4 percent, with gaming group Genting and YTL Corp rising over 1 percent each. Singapore's index <.FTSTI> rose 1.3 percent, ending weak sessions over the past three days, with top telecoms firm Singapore Telecommunication gaining 2 percent and top lender DBS Group Holdings up 1.8 percent.