Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose on Tuesday as better-than-expected factory orders and a surge in vehicle sales at Ford Motor Co provided more evidence of an economic recovery.

But a big decline in pending home sales, which fell in November for the first time in nine months, increased concerns about the housing market. That capped the broad market's gains and pushed the Dow industrials into the red a day after all three major U.S. stock indexes rose to their highest levels in over a year.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell back in post-settlement trading on Tuesday after industry data showed a surprise increase in distillate stocks overall, even though heating oil supplies fell.

Crude inventories declined more than expected, data from the American Petroleum Institute showed, but traders had been focusing on distillates for guidance.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 5:10 p.m. EST(2210 GMT) February crude was down 13 cents, or 0.16 percebt, at $81.38 a barrel. It had settled up 26 cents, or 0.32 percent, at $81.77, the highest since the $86.59 close on Oct. 9, 2008. It traded from $80.95 to $82, matching the 2009 peak hit on Oct. 21, which was the highest since intraday prices hit $84.83 on Oct. 14, 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January up 2-3/4 cents at $10.52-1/4 a bushel. March up 3 at $10.61. Choppy, market fluctuated between positive and negative territory in rangebound trade.

CBOT-SOYOIL - January down 0.19 cent at 40.71 cents per lb. March down 0.19 at 41.10. Meal/oil spreading weighs.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended higher on Tuesday, off 7-month highs hit earlier in the session as investors booked profits on a rally boosted by crude oil and expectations of strong demand.

The weaker dollar also boosted market sentiment, as investors favoured commodity and equity plays over the greenback on signs the U.S. economy would start to recover.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday, with Malaysia hitting a 19-1/2-month high and Singapore testing 17-month peak as blue chips recouped recent losses, from Indonesia's Bumi Resources to Singapore's Wilmar.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> ended up 0.9 percent after hitting its highest level in 17 months, with CapitaLand rising 1.9 percent and Keppel Corp , the world's largest rig maker, 1.3 percent higher.

Malaysia <.KLSE> leapt 1 percent after testing its highest level since May 20, 2008, as Sime Darby edged up 2.4 percent, in line with higher palm oil prices.