Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose for a second straight day on Monday, boosted by AIG's record-setting deal to sell a major Asian unit and on gains in semiconductor shares after SanDisk Corp raised its revenue forecast.

Hopes for an agreement to resolve nagging uncertainty surrounding debt-laden Greece also encouraged investors.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, March 1 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Monday as mixed economic data and a stronger dollar versus the euro kept the energy markets under pressure. Crude oil futures seesawed near $80 a barrel early, before falling towards $78, after front-month crude rose more than 9 percent in February from its January close.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, April crude settled down 96 cents, or 1.21 percent, at $78.70 a barrel, trading from $78.06 to $80.62, highest since hitting an intraday high of $80.67 on Jan. 13.

CBOT-CHICAGO, March 1 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 1-1/2 cents at $9.52-1/2 per bushel, May up 1-1/2 at $9.62-1/2.
Choppy; ended firm on unwinding of corn/soy spreads but pressured off and on through the day as wheat and corn tumbled. Big South American soy harvest also hangs over the market.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.21 at 39.50 cents per lb; May up 0.20 at 39.90 cents.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose as much as 1.7 percent on Monday to one-week highs, echoing a rise in crude oil and soy prices after a long weekend.

Traders said palm oil markets had last week priced in weak February export data released by cargo surveyors on Monday. Expectations of weak production for last month are also supporting the market.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, March 1 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets
rallied on Monday, with Singapore and Malaysia leading rally, following better-than-expected earnings and on signs that Greece's debt crisis could be easing.

Singapore's index <.FTSTI> gained 0.8 percent to its highest close since Feb. 23, while Malaysia <.KLSE> rose 1 percent to a near five-week high.

In Kaula Lampur, market heavyweight plantation share Sime Derby gained 1.8 percent as analysts expected earnings to bounce back in the second half after a weaker-than-expected first-half performance.