Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 headed for its best December in nearly two decades as U.S. stocks advanced in thin trade on Wednesday, lifted by investor optimism about the economy in 2011.

The S&P has gained 6.8 percent so far this month and rose in 17 of the last 20 sessions. However, with volume among the lowest of the year because of the holidays and scarce economic news, some investors are waiting for January to see if the rising pattern holds.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 10.52 points, or 0.09 percent, at 11,586.06. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 1.34 points, or 0.11 percent, at 1,259.85. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 4.05 points, or 0.15 percent, at 2,666.93.

NYMEX-HOUSTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices settled lower on Wednesday in thin trading volume, pressured by profit taking as investors awaited weekly oil inventory reports and staying close to the 26-month high reached earlier this week.

Analysts expected a drawdown in crude oil inventories for the fourth consecutive period last week as refiners reduced imports for year-end tax considerations. On the

New York Mercantile Exchange, February crude fell 37 cents, or 0.4 percent, to settle at $91.12 a barrel, trading from $90.80 to $91.53. Crude prices reached $91.88 intraday on Monday, their highest since October 2008.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex closing trends on Wednesday,

CBOT-SOYBEANS - January down 9-3/4 at $13.66 per bushel. Prices fall on profit-taking setback following rally to highest level since September 2008. Weak crude oil market adds pressure.

CBOT-SOYMEAL - January down $2.90 at $365.70 per ton. Following soybeans.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures snapped a seven-day winning streak on Wednesday, as traders booked profits although concerns over weak global vegetable oil production persisted.

Palm oil, which hit a 33-month high the day before, continued to draw support from heavy rains disrupting some harvesting in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The market, up 40.2 percent so far this year, has also been boosted by La Nina-driven hot weather potentially curbing soy production.

The benchmark March 2011 crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives settled 1.2 percent lower to 3,733 Malaysian ringgit ($1,206). The previous day, the contract hit the highest since March 14, 2008. Overall traded volumes stood at 11,599 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to the usual 15,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday, with demand from local institutions shoring up Thai energy and big-caps and optimism over the economic outlook bolstering sentiment in the rest of the region.

Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> rose for a fourth session, adding 0.8 percent to two-week highs, but trade remained thin in the final week of the year, as elsewhere.

Malaysia's index <.KLSE> added 0.5 percent, hitting a seven-week peak, and the Philippine index <.PSI> climbed 0.9 percent to its highest in three weeks as the central bank left its policy rate at a record low.

Malaysia's top lender, Malayan Banking , rose 0.7 percent, while PT Bank Negara Indonesia , Indonesia's fourth biggest lender, climbed 4.1 percent and PT Astra International , its biggest firm, rose 1 percent.