Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, July 21 (Reuters) - Global stocks slid on Wednesday as investors poured money into safe havens such as bonds after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy faces "unusually uncertain" prospects, adding to worries about the recovery.

Bernanke's downbeat economic assessment slammed U.S. stocks even after Morgan Stanley and Apple Inc easily beat Wall Street's expectations. The Wall Street bank and the tech bellwether, known for its iPhone and iPad, were the latest U.S. corporations to turn in solid results in the second-quarter reporting season.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed down 109.43 points, or 1.07 percent, at 10,120.53. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 13.89 points, or 1.28 percent, at 1,069.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slid 35.16 points, or 1.58 percent, to 2,187.33.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell on
Wednesday as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke expressed concerns about the U.S. economy and after government data showed an unexpected increase in crude oil inventories last week.

Earlier, crude futures dropped almost $1 as traders factored in the inventory data. Losses were later pared as traders raised concerns that a weather disturbance brewing near the Dominican Republic could strengthen and eventually turn into a storm that could hit the Gulf of Mexico.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, new front-month September crude settled down $1.02, or 1.31 percent, at $76.56 a barrel, trading from $76.31 to $78.57.

CBOT-CHICAGO, July 21 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Wednesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - August up 3-1/2 cents at $10.15-1/4 per bushel; new-crop November up 5-1/2 at $9.78-1/2. Firmer with wheat and corn, but hedge-related pressure in thin volume briefly presses market in early moves.

CBOT-SOYOIL - August down 0.14 cent at 38.26 cents per lb. Pressured by retreat in soybeans and crude oil prices.

FCPO-JAKARTA, July 21 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil rebounded on Wednesday, recouping the previous day's losses, as traders covered short positions followinggains in oil and hopes that weather concerns in the U.S. will continue to support grain markets.

The benchmark October contract on Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives Exchange ended up 35 ringgit or 1.44 percent to 2,459 ringgit ($765) a tonne. Overall volumes stood at 16,473 lots of 25 tonnes each, more than the usual 10,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, July 21 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Wednesday amid optimism about the regional economy, with Indonesia hitting a record high and Thailand around two-year highs following record export numbers for June.

Investors were still cautious over results for European bank stress tests due out on Friday [ID:nLDE66D099], one reason for late retreats by equities in the region, dealers said.

Malaysia <.KLSE> edged up 0.25 percent to 10-week highs and the Philippines <.PSI> gained 0.38 percent, ending a four-day fall.

Singapore <.FTSTI> fell 0.8 percent after hitting an 11-week high while Vietnam <.VNI> ended 0.23 percent lower. Singapore's third-largest developer, Keppel Land , fell 0.7 percent after it reported a 20 percent rise in its second-quarter net profit, in line with expectations.