Trader's Highlight

NYMEX-SINGAPORE, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose more than $1/bbl on Monday as the threat of supply disruptions from OPEC member Libya grew as unrest in the country intensified, with protesters calling for the departure of veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

The leader of the Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern-Libya threatened on Sunday to cut oil exports to Western countries within 24-hours unless authorities stopped the "oppression of protesters".

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, March crude rose to $87.37, up $1.17 by 2347 GMT, after settling at $86.20 in the previous session.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell to a one-month low on Monday, on concerns demand from China may slow after the government moved to drain cash from the economy and rein in inflation.

Palm oil followed last Friday's declines in the U.S. soy complex when China raised its required reserves for big banks to record levels.

Weaker Malaysian exports worsened the declines but shipments to China doubled in Feb. 1-25, signalling some restocking demand after Lunar New Year holidays earlier this month.

The benchmark May crude palm oil contract fell 0.7 percent to 3,656 ringgit ($1,205.010) per tonne after touching its lowest level since January 18 at 3,621 ringgit. Overall traded volume more than tripled to 25,633 lots of 25 tonnes each from the usual 15,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday as spreading tension in Libya and other oil-producing countries put a lid on risk appetite, but investors selectively bought banks due to optimism over loan growth.

Market turnover remained weak, with volume in Malaysia and Thailand falling to around 0.8 times the 30-day average.

Singapore's main index <.FTSTI> ended down 0.5 percent in a range-bound session, similar to others in the region. Indonesia <.JKSE> inched down 0.1 percent and the Philippines <.PSI> 0.4 percent.

Thai stocks <.SETI> were flat, but Malaysia <.KLSE> rose 0.6 percent, led by a 3.1 percent gain in the biggest lender by assets, Malayan Banking , after stong quarterly net profit.

Generally, earnings plays were prominent in the region. Singapore's Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp fell almost 1 percent to S$9.32, with broker UOB Kay Hian lowering its target price to S$11.80 from S$11.96 after the bank missed market forecasts for its quarterly profit.