Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Investors showed unusual caution on Tuesday, leaving U.S. stocks little changed before the potential market tumult of next week's U.S. elections and likely announcement of more stimulus from the Federal Reserve.

Next week's high-profile events could signal shifts in both monetary policy and legislative direction, raising fears that trumped Tuesday's earnings news and economic reports.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 5.41 points, or 0.05 percent, to 11,169.46. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 0.02 point to 1,185.64. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 6.44 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,497.29.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended slightly higher on Tuesday, helped by improving consumer confidence but with gains limited by a rally in the dollar and broadly lower equities.

Oil also faced resistance as traders took positions ahead of weekly petroleum inventory data forecast to show that crude stocks rose.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for December delivery settled up 3 cents, or 0.04 percent, at $82.55 a barrel. It traded from $81.81 to $82.88, inside the range of the previous session at $81.45 TO $83.28.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November up 1-1/4 cents at $12.19 per bushel; January up 1 at $12.31. Boosted by spillover buying after wheat futures soared. Unwinding of soy/wheat spreads noted.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December up 0.06 cent per lb at 49.53 cents per lb. Rebounding crude oil market underpins soyoil despite weakness in soybeans.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures eased on Tuesday on profit taking due to a firmer dollar, but losses were limited by strong Chinese demand for soybeans for crushing into vegetable oils.

The U.S. dollar edged up against the euro on Tuesday, although concerns about what the Federal Reserve might do at its rate setting meeting next week is clouding the outlook for the currency. [USD/]

The benchmark January 2011 crude palm oil contract ended 0.6 percent lower at 3,053 ringgit ($987.4). The previous day, the contract rose to its highest since July 28, 2008. Traded volume stood at 14,988 lots of 25 tonnes each.

Palm oil losses were capped thanks to a little changed U.S. soybeans complex, as strong purchases by China continue to underpin prices.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Tuesday as investors scooped up blue chip firms during the reporting season, with market players waiting for details of further U.S. quantitative easing.

Indonesia's main index <.JKSE> hit a record high and Thailand's SET index <.SETI> topped the 1,000 mark for the first time since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

Malaysia <.KLSE> ended up 0.37 percent, still below a 33-month high hit early this month, and Vietnam <.VNI> extended its gains into a fourth session, adding 1.5 percent to a one-week high.