Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks slipped on Monday as concerns the Federal Reserve may scale back its efforts to stimulate the economy muted optimism over two big takeover bids.

The S&P 500 held above its 20-day moving average, now near 1,196 and marking a potential support level, though the index closed slightly lower.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> edged up 9.39 points, or 0.08 percent, at 11,201.97. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was off 1.46 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,197.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 4.39 points, or 0.17percent, to 2,513.82.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Monday, dragged down by a late selloff in gasoline futures on talk of the restart of a large New Jersey refinery.

Worries about euro-zone debt, which caused the dollar to hit six-week highs, also pressured crude oil futures.

The trader talk focused on ConocoPhillips' 238,000 barrel per day refinery in Bayway, N.J. The refinery was shut n late September for major maintenance but has had several power outages during the work which had delayed the restart.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for December delivery settled down 2 cents, or 0.02 percent, at $84.86 a barrel, slipping from an early high of $85.77. It posted the day's low at $84.60.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Monday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January up 17-1/2 cents per bushel at
$12.86-1/2. Technical bounce after the limit-down close of soy futures on Friday due to talk China would raise interest rates over the weekend. Big soy crush number in NOPA monthly report also supportive.

CBOT-SOYOIL - December down 0.06 cent per lb at 52.47. Meal/oil spreading weighs on soyoil.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures rebounded on Monday, as strong exports data outweighed concerns over China raising interest rates that kept the market on edge.

Malaysian palm oil exports jumped at least 26.6 percent for Nov. 1-15 versus a month ago, driven by stronger demand from China and the European Union.

The benchmark January 2011 contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange crawl back up half a percent to 3,370 Malaysian ringgit ($1,084) per tonne, after easing from a 27-month high on Friday. Overall traded volume more than doubled to 23,282 lots of 25 tonnes each.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday, as investors hugged the sidelines on renewed concerns over European debt problems and growing expectations of an interest rate rise in China.

Indonesia is trading at a 15.4 forward price-to-earnings ratio, richer than all-Asia's 13.6 times and more expensive than Thailand's 12.5. The Philippines is trading at 13.4, while Singapore is at 14.2 and Malaysia is trading at 14.1, Thomson Reuters StarMine data showed.