Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The Dow notched a seventh straight day of gains on Tuesday, but light volume suggested that investors don't believe the more than five-month rally has the legs to keep going.

Surprisingly strong sales by McDonald's boosted optimism on consumer spending and drove the Dow's gains on what turned out to be the quietest day of trading so far in 2011, with total volume about 17 percent below last year's daily average.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 71.52 points, or 0.59 percent, at 12,233.15. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 5.52 points, or 0.42 percent, at 1,324.57. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 13.06 points, or 0.47 percent, at 2,797.05.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil prices ended lower for a fourth day on Tuesday after news that Suez Canal operations and ship movements were unaffected by strikes of workers at companies at the zone.

But in post-settlement trading, losses were pared and intraday prices climbed back to above $87 a barrel after the American Petroleum Institute reported an unexpected drawdown in domestic crude stocks last week.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for March delivery settled down 54 cents, or 0.62 percent, at $86.94 a barrel, the lowest close since Jan. 27. It traded from $85.88 to $88.11.

CBOT-CHICAGO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Tuesday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - March up 9-3/4 cents at $14.34-1/4 per bushel. November up 11-1/2 at $13.77-1/2. Late fund buying lifted soybeans as traders remained optimistic about more big sales of soy to China as U.S. soy stocks continue to shrink. A late fund buy order boosted soy through Monday's high, touching off buy-stops.

CBOT-SOYOIL - March up 0.36 cent at 58.77 cents per lb. Following soybeans.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday as investors further cut positions in emerging equities, alarmed by growing inflationary pressures weighing on the region's large-capitalised stocks.

The exodus of funds has pulled most markets off last year's peaks with expectations of higher interest rates dampening future earnings of Southeast Asian firms.

Singapore fell 0.2 percent to near a one-week low, with turnover of 1.07 times its 30-day average. Property shares fell on concerns over cooling measures in China to rein in stubbornly high housing prices, led by 3 percent drop in Keppel Land .

Bucking the trend, Malaysia climbed to a two-week high, in relatively active turnover of 1.1 times its 30-day average, while Vietnam rose 2 percent on resuming trade after market holidays since last week.