Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied in a brief pre-holiday session on Thursday, closing at 2009 highs, after data showing a drop in initial jobless claims and growth in durable goods orders suggested an economic recovery was
picking up steam.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose on Thursday, ending above $78 a barrel on optimism about economic recovery that pushed equities higher, a weaker dollar and momentum from the previous day's rise after inventory reports
showed oil stockpiles fell last week.

U.S. stocks rallied after data showing a drop in initial jobless claims and growth in durable goods orders suggested an economic recovery was picking up steam.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February crude rose $1.38, or 1.8 percent, to settle at $78.05 a barrel, trading from $76.19 to $78.25.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex closing trends on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January down 1-3/4 cents at $9.99-1/2 a bushel. Expectations for large supplies from South America pressure market in thin trade but market underpinned by good export data.

CBOT-SOYOIL - January up 0.38 cent at 38.46 cents per lb. Rallying crude oil market provides strength to soyoil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures jumped 2.2 percent on Thursday, after three consecutive days of declines, as higher crude oil prices and a weaker U.S. dollar lifted the market.

The benchmark March contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 54 ringgit to 2,554 ringgit ($745) per tonne after going as high as 2,573 ringgit.

REGIONAL EQUITIES- BANGKOK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets ended mixed on Thursday in a listless holiday-trading session, with Singapore falling back from a more than one-year high and Thailand easing off from its highest in two months.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> edged down 0.14 percent after a two-day rise, weighed down by casino operator Genting Singapore and shopping mall operator CapitaMalls , which each dropped almost 1 percent.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> was up 0.3 percent, led by a 2.1 percent surge in industrial gas provider Petronas Gas and a 3.6 percent climb in pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks.