Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Stronger-than-expected corporate results and upbeat economic data drove U.S. stocks higher on Wednesday as they fed expectations the recovery will bolster corporate profits.

The optimistic outlook on the economy was underpinned by data showing a six-month high in housing starts and a rise in industrial production in January.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures were little changed on Wednesday after weekly industry inventory data showed a small drawdown in domestic crude stocks, defying forecasts that supplies rose last week.

Heating oil futures trimmed gains after the American Petroleum Institute's data showed that distillates, including heating oil stocks, gained, dashing forecasts for a drawdown.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude last traded up 36 cents, or 0.47 percent, at $77.37 a barrel in the after-market. It had settled earlier up 32 cents, or 0.42 percent, at $77.33, trading from $76.53 to $77.82.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March down 14 cents at $9.51-1/2 per bushel. Profit-taking and firm dollar weigh on prices along with ongoing pressure from expectations of a record large South American soy harvest.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March down 0.20 cent at 38.75 cents per lb. Following soybeans lower.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose to more than a five-week high on Wednesday after the Lunar New Year holidays as traders priced in earlier gains from crude oil and rival soyoil.

Expectations of weaker production this month due to the Lunar New Year holidays are likely to offset poor export data reported by a cargo surveyor on Tuesday, keeping palm oil prices above the 2,550 ringgit level, traders say.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Singapore stocks rose to their highest in three weeks on Wednesday, leading gains in other Southeast Asian stock markets as global economic optimism pushed up oil prices and spurred buying in regional commodity shares.

Singapore <.FTSTI> ended up 1.3 percent, earlier hitting its highest since since Jan. 26, with coal miner Straits Asia Resources surging 5.7 percent. Noble Group rose 3 percent while Olam

Malaysia <.KLSE> was up 0.5 percent at its highest since Feb. 4, Indonesia <.JKSE> rose 0.9 percent to the highest since Feb. 5, and the Philippines <.PSI> surged 1.7 percent to its highest since Jan. 22, building on a 6 percent gain in the previous five sessions.