Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell to their lowest level in seven weeks on Tuesday as an unexpectedly large drop in home sales ratcheted up concerns that the economic recovery is even weaker than had been feared.

The Dow and S&P 500 racked up their fourth day of losses in a row after an industry group reported that sales of U.S. existing homes in July fell to their slowest pace in 15 years.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> fell 133.96 points, or 1.32 percent, to 10,040.45. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> shed 15.49 points, or 1.45 percent, to 1,051.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 35.87 points, or 1.66 percent, to 2,123.76.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended down for the fifth day in a row on Tuesday, hitting the lowest level in 11 weeks, as fears persisted an economic slowdown would further erode oil demand.

Those fears were reinforced by data showing sales of previously owned U.S. homes plunged in July and a warning from Chicago Federal Reserve president that the risk of a double-dip recession was higher than six months ago.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude settled down $1.47, or 2.01percent, at $71.63 a barrel, the lowest close since prices ended at $71.44 on June.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - September down 7-1/2 cents at $9.99-1/2 per bushel, November down 6-1/2 at $9.99. Outlooks for record large U.S. 2010 soy production, spillover from falling wheat futures, lower crude oil and equities markets combine to weigh on soy futures. Additional weight from seasonal harvest pressure.

CBOT-SOYOIL - September up 0.23 cent at 39.48 cents per lb. Supported by funds buying 2,000 contracts, traders said.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell to a three-week low on Tuesday on technical selling and a slowdown in demand thanks to a surge in cash prices.

Palm oil has lost 5.7 percent so far this year thanks to expectations of bountiful supply of U.S. soybeans although losses were limited by oilseeds output in Europe due to drought and rainy weather in oil palm growing Southeast Asia.

Traders say demand has been lacklustre due to a slowdown in orders from China and Pakistan. Refiners have been cautious as the recent strength in the Malaysian ringgit may hit their margins from processing and exporting palm oil.

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell almost 2 percent, or 50 ringgit, to 2,510 ringgit ($801.9) a tonne after touching its lowest since July 30 at 2,502 ringgit. Traded volume nearly tripled to 28,938 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday, with Indonesia's benchmark index coming off an all-time high, as investors cut positions in riskier assets ahead of U.S. economic data.

Late selling pulled markets off intraday highs. Singapore's main share index <.FTSTI> inched down 0.1 percent, while Thailand <.SETI> reversed early gains. Optimism fueled by better-than-expected second quarter economy had pushed the Thai market to its highest in 33 months on Monday.

The Philippines <.PSI> dropped 2.3 percent, ending a five-day rise to a 2-½ year high, while Vietnam <.VNI> lost 3.01 percent to an 8-month low, with an outflow of $233,000 for the session, Thomson Reuters data show. Bucking the trend, Malaysia <.KLSE> inched up 0.2 percent, marking a new 2-½ year high.