Trader's Highlight

FCPO-JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil ended off one-month lows hit earlier on Monday as investors were worried that prices had overcooked the strong fundamentals in recent weeks. Palm oil rallied in recent weeks, driven by concerns that heavy rains have curbed Malaysian and Indonesian output and a dry spell may affect the Argentine soy crop. On Jan 4, prices touched 3,905 ringgit, a peak not touched since March 2008.

The benchmark April 2011 crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives fell as much as 0.7 percent to 3,618 ringgit ($1,183) per tonne, the lowest since Dec. 22. It rose 0.2 percent at the close. Overall, traded volume stood at 10,525 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared with 11,427 lots on
Friday. Earlier, prices had peaked at 3,685 ringgit, supported by export data and expectations that demand from emerging markets would outpace supplies in the coming months.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Major Southeast Asian stock markets fell in thin volume on Monday, led by financials, plagued by China's latest attempt to contain inflation that added to caution about monetary tightening in the region.

Many investors were happy to stay on the sidelines ahead of a euro zone finance ministers' meeting later in the day at which there may be an agreement to beef up the zone's rescue fund.

Markets in Singapore <.FTSTI> and Thailand <.SETI> posted small losses, while stocks in Malaysia <.KLSE>, the Philippines <.PSI> and Vietnam <.VNI> gained, although volume in each fell short of the 30-day average.

Shares in Asia excluding Japan fell 0.67 percent <.MIAPJ0000PUS> by 0906 GMT, with a steep fall in Chinese stocks spooking other Asian markets.

Shares in Singapore lenders extended recent losses after the government introduced more measures to cool home prices, which dampened the outlook for loan growth. Top lender DBS Group Holdings fell 0.5 percent.