Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks retreated from 12-month highs on Tuesday as disappointing housing and inflation data prompted investors to book recent gains despite strong results from bellwethers including Apple and Caterpillar.

But the blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average dropped 50.71 points, or 0.50 percent, to end at 10,041.48. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 6.85 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,091.06. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> shed
12.85 points, or 0.59 percent, to close at 2,163.47.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - New front-month December crude futures extended losses in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after industry inventory data showed that domestic crude oil stockpiles rose more than expected last week.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 5:05 p.m. EDT (2105 GMT), December crude was down $1.31, or 1.64 percent, at $78.64 a barrel. It had settled earlier at $79.12, down 84 cents, or 1.05 percent, trading $78.32 to $80.40.

Earlier, November crude expired and settled down 52 cents, or 0.65 percent, at $79.09. It traded from $78.05 to $80.05, the highest since the $84.83 intraday peak on Oct. 14, 2008.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November down 13-3/4 cents at $9.82-1/2 a bushel. Profit taking after the big gains on Monday weighs. Firm dollar and weak stock market also add to bearish tone as did devaluation of Brazilian real, which makes Brazil's beans more competitive on the world market.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December down 0.12 cent per lb at 37.47. Profit-taking after Monday's gains.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures edged down 0.8 percent on Tuesday, reversing early gains, amid renewed concerns over demand after cargo surveyors announced weak exports in the first 20 days of the month, traders said.

The benchmark January contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivative Exchange settled down 17 ringgit, or 0.8 percent, to 2,180 ringgit ($648.42) a tonne, coming off an intraday high of 2,216. Overall volume was 14,692 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Thai stocks fell almost one percent on Tuesday, hit by late selling in energy shares, while Indonesia snapped a five-day winning streak with financial stocks and Bumi Resources leading the way.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> edged down 0.02 percent, Malaysia's index <.KLSE> gained 0.3 percent, still hovering at more than 16-month highs, the Philippines <.PSI> gained 0.5 percent and Vietnam <.VNI> climbed 1.6 percent.

In the city-state, Singapore Telecom fell 0.63 percent and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp dropped 1.2 percent.

In Kuala Lumpur, palm plantation firm IOI Corp was up 1.5 percent and financial firm AMMB Holding rose 3.03 percent. RHB Capital dropped 4.2 percent after its plan to buy a stake in Indonesia's Bank Mestika Dharma.

FCPO Daily: Hovering at 2,100 levels

Upward move has been slowing down a little following prices facing some tough resistance at 2200 levels. Thus, market may move in sideways in near term. As for now, we maintain the immediate downside support at 2140-2130 followed by 2108-2085 (unfilled gap left over since 12/10/2009). To the upside, resistance is pegged at 2217-2240.

FKLI Daily: Rally likely to continue

Another record high was seen after market violated 1270 immediate resistance levels. Thus, rally will likely to continue in near term with the next upside projection is looking at 1280 followed by 1300. Downside support is pegged at 1260-1250.