Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks declined on Thursday, led by technology losses as Cisco Systems Inc's weak outlook fueled worries that economic softness will hurt corporate profits.

Cisco lost 16 percent to $20.57 after the Internet network product provider's chief executive cautioned about "short-term challenges" in Europe and U.S. public-sector spending. Cisco forecast revenue and earnings below estimates late Wednesday.

Analysts saw the outlook as worrisome, particularly since profit growth for technology companies has outperformed the broader S&P 500 this earnings period and since Cisco's report came about a month after other top tech names reported.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 61.19 points, or 0.54 percent, at 11,295.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 4.12 points, or 0.34 percent, at 1,214.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 20.60 points, or 0.80 percent, at 2,558.18.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures settled unchanged on Thursday, pulling back from a 25-month peak above $88 a barrel, as initial support from record Chinese demand in October and a demand forecast boost from OPEC was offset by pressure from the stronger dollar.

Thursday's early price jump followed Wednesday's U.S. Energy Information Administration report that revealed domestic crude oil inventories fell sharply last week, against expectations of a stock build, with refined products stocks falling more than expected.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, December crude settled unchanged at $87.81 a barrel, trading from $87.54 to $88.63, the highest price since $89.82 was reached on Oct. 9, 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November up 20-3/4 cents at $13.30-1/4 per bushel; January up 19-1/2 at $13.39. Rally led by deferred contracts after Informa Economics forecast a drop in U.S. soybean plantings for 2011. Additional support from continued brisk demand for U.S. soybeans, especially by China, and from USDA's cut this week in its estimate for U.S. 2010/11 soybean ending stocks.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December up 1.08 cents at 55.03 cents per lb. Boosted by rallying soybeans and spot contract climbed to a fresh 26-month high. Contract highs hit in all contracts after December

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures hit fresh two-year highs on Thursday as traders took positions on cues from upbeat global commodity markets and fears of heavy rains affecting output.

Global commodities markets surged after inflation concerns stoked by data from China drew investors to physical assets as a way to protect wealth.
Malaysia's OSK financial group raised its CPO price estimates in 2010 and 2011 to 2,700 ringgit per tonne, compared with 2,500 ringgit made earlier, based on strong stocks level in first quarter next year that may not hold past mid-2011 due to a bumper crop.

Crude reached a 25-month high in Asian hours as strong industrial output sent demand in China to a record and a surplus subsided in top consumer the United States.

U.S. soyoil for December inched up during Asian trade hours, driven by firmer soybean that underpinned demand from China, the world's biggest importer.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday as investors booked quick profits from recent gains, with Indonesia and Malaysia both pulling back from record peaks.

Indonesia's main index <.JKSE> finished 0.3 percent lower. It climbed to a fresh intraday high at one stage, helped by demand for commodity shares. Malaysia <.KLSE>, which hit a record on Wednesday, fell 0.9 percent due to selling in banks.

Authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia were again suspected of entering the foreign exchange market to prevent their currencies from strengthening too rapidly. Dealers were still scrambling in the Philippines to cover short dollar positions after the central bank engineered a dollar shortage last week.