Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed down, snapping a three-day winning streak on Tuesday, even as investors adjusted to the insecurity created by events in Japan, the Middle East and North Africa. Volume was the lowest of 2011, based on preliminary data.

Based on the latest available figures, the Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> shed 17.98 points, or 0.15 percent, to end unofficially at 12,018.55. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 4.61 points, or 0.36 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,293.77. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> lost 8.22 points, or 0.31 percent, to close unofficially at 2,683.87.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose a second straight day on Tuesday as tensions in the Middle East and Allied air strikes against targets in Libya stoked more concerns about supply disruptions.

Late short-covering ahead of the expiration of the April crude contract pushed prices up by more than $2 a barrel near the close.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, April crude expired and settled at $104 a barrel, gaining $1.67 or 1.63 percent, after trading from $101.43 to $104.54.

CBOT-CHICAGO, March 22 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed weak on Tuesday, pressured by a downturn in corn as rumors of a U.S. corn sale to China have not been confirmed. Soy also pressured by profit-taking following the big recovery bounce in the market late last week.

CBOT-SOYMEAL - May last unchanged at $366.40. Choppy trade and volume was thin.

CBOT-SOYOIL - May last down 0.06 cent per lb at 55.82. Spillover pressure from lower soybeans.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil tumbled 3.7 percent on Tuesday as investors unwound positions on expectations of higher production this month and a stronger ringgit currency hitting refining margins.

Output in Malaysia's key southern growing region, which accounts for 30 percent of national output, is set to strengthen in March on favourable growing weather, traders and planters said.

The higher output comes as the ringgit strengthens against the dollar, making crude palm oil used for refined products more expensive at time when orders have been slow.

The benchmark June 2011 crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives dropped as much as 129 ringgit, to 3,291 ringgit($1,085)a tonne. It later settled at 3,308 ringgit. Overall volumes stood at 25,617 lots of 25 tonnes each, much higher than the expected volumes of 15,000 lots at the close.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, March 22 (Reuters) - Singapore's stock market rose on Tuesday but others in the region were flat in light volume, with worries about oil prices and inflation deterring investors.

However, some were taking a more positive view on Japan's nuclear crisis and were prepared to buy back risky assets.

Singapore <.FTSTI> gained 0.6 percent to hit its highest close since March 14. The Philippines <.PSI> gained 0.3 percent but Malaysia <.KLSE> and Indonesia <.JKSE> barely moved.

Thailand <.SETI> fell 0.1 percent after touching a two-week high during the day, while Vietnam <.VNI> fell 0.7 percent.

Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur suffered net foreign outflows of $26 and $11.7 million respectively on the day.

In Singapore, Sembcorp Marine, the world's second-largest oil rig builder, rose 3.3 percent after it said it won an order worth $450 million to build a jack-up rig.