Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Risky assets, including stocks and higher-yielding currencies, rebounded on Wednesday on solid earnings expectations and a view that this week's surprise monetary tightening in China bodes well for recovery.

Gold edged higher as a decline in oil prices offset the positive effect of a weaker U.S. dollar, which earlier helped the precious metal recoup a 2 percent drop on Tuesday.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil ended lower for the third consecutive session on Wednesday, stung by government data showing petroleum supplies rose last week.

Data from the Energy Information Administration, a unit of the Department of Energy, showed crude and gasoline inventories rose much more than expected last week.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, February crude settled down $1.14, or 1.41 percent, at $79.65 a barrel, after trading from a high of $80.67 to $78.37, lowest since Dec. 29's low of $78.02.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January up 14 cents at $9.83-1/2 a bushel, March up 14-1/2 at $9.92-1/2 a bushel. Turns higher on bull-spreading, with nearby months gaining on deferreds amid slowdown in South American farmer selling. Strong export and domestic usage lends support.

CBOT-SOYOIL - January up 0.37 cent at 38.63 cents per lb; March up 0.38 cent at 39.01 cents. Followed soybeans higher.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures closed down 1.8 percent on Wednesday, taking cues from weak crude oil as well as soyoil markets, with China's monetary tightening also hurting sentiment, traders said.

Expected slower demand also put pressure on the palm market. The benchmark March contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed down 46 ringgit at 2,510 ringgit ($750).

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Singapore shares fell to their lowest in nearly two weeks lows on Wednesday, leading losses on most other Southeast Asian bourses after China moved to tighten monetary conditions by raising banks' reserve requirements.

Singapore's benchmark index <.FTSTI> slid 0.95 percent, at one stage touching its lowest since Dec. 31, with financial shares among decliners. Top bank DBS fell 1.1 percent and number two United Overseas Bank lost 1.2 percent.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> fell 0.3 percent to its lowest since Jan. 6, with financial firm CIMB Group down 0.7 percent and telecoms firm Axiata Group nearly 1 percent lower.