Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped late on Tuesday due to trepidation over churning political and regulatory developments, offsetting solid earnings and improved consumer confidence data.

Gains faded late as investors turned cautious before the Federal Reserve's policy announcement and President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday night.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures stayed lower in post-settlement trading on Tuesday despite industry data showing a surprise drawdown in crude inventories last week.

Heating oil futures pared losses as total distillate stocks fell below forecast, data from the American Petroleum Institute showed, even though its heating oil component was up slightly.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange at 5:10 p.m. EST (2210 GMT), March crude was down 65 cents at $74.61 a barrel. It had settled down 55 cents, or 0.73 percent, at $74.71, trading from $75.39 to $73.82, lowest since $72.72 was struck Dec. 22.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 7 cents at $9.47-1/2 a bushel. Rebounds from drop to 3-1/2 month low as traders cover short position

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.27 cent at 36.77 cents per lb. Following turnaround in soybeans despite pressure from lower crude oil and firm dollar.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures tumbled 2.5 percent on Tuesday, along with other markets on concerns that top commodity buyer China may slow demand after some credit tightening measures came into effect.

Crude oil fell towards $74 a barrel and vegetable oil markets weakened after China's central bank told Chinese banks they needed to raise their reserve ratios.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks fell to two-month lows on Tuesday, leading other Southeast Asian markets lower amid fears China could impose further measures to curb soaring loan growth, potentially dampening the global recovery.

The Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> ended down 2.5 percent at its lowest since Dec. 1, with Keppel Corp , the world's biggest offshore rig maker, sliding 1.6 percent even though it reported a 30 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> fell 1.1 percent to its lowest since Jan. 5, Thailand's index <.SETI> eased 1.2 percent to the lowest since Dec. 14, and Indonesia's index <.JKSE> finished 0.8 percent lower, earlier falling to its lowest since Jan. 7.