Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose for a third straight day on Thursday as investors viewed company results and manufacturing data as evidence the economic rebound will continue.

But stock index futures dropped steeply after the closing bell when the Federal Reserve announced it was raising the discount rate that it charges banks for emergency loans.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended above $79 a barrel on Thursday, hitting a five-week high, amid worries over Iran's nuclear program and upbeat U.S. economic reports.

Improved readings on manufacturing and overall growth, overshadowed data showing a rise in unemployment claims and in the producer price index, and brightened the recovery outlook.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude settled up $1.73, or 2.24 percent, at $79.06 a barrel, the highest close since Jan. 14's $79.39. It traded from $76.32 to $79.11, highest since front month crude hit $79.15 on Jan. 19.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March down 3-1/2 cents at $9.48 per bushel. Turned lower as dollar rallied against the euro. Outlooks for big South American crops add pressure including increased selling by South American farmers.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March down 0.05 cent at 38.70 cents a lb. Following downturn in soybeans, but strength in crude oil lends underlying support.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures eased on Thursday from five-week highs hit the previous session as traders booked profits on the back of declines in rival crude oil and soyoil markets.

But expectations of weaker output this month due to the Lunar New Year holidays limited losses. Palm oil is the best performing vegetable oil market this year, falling just 2.3 percent, compared to U.S soyoil's 4.1 percent declines.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Singapore shares fell almost 1
percent on Thursday, leading losses in other Southeast Asian markets amid lingering worries over Greece's fiscal problems, with a stronger dollar prompting selling in resource shares.

The Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> ended down 0.9 percent, after a three-day run to a three-week high, with actively traded gaming group Genting dropping 6.9 percent and commodities firm Olam International 2.7 percent.

In Kuala Lumpur, the index ended a four-day rise, weighed down by a 2.2 percent loss in Genting and a 0.6 percent fall in palm plantation firm IOI Corp .