Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - After one of the most volatile weeks in memory, U.S. stocks ended higher on Friday in a tentative sign that the worst of the selling may be over.

Volume was much lighter than on any other day of the week and intraday swings were far less violent than those seen in previous days. Both signs suggested a drop in investor anxiety.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 107.74 points, or 0.97 percent, at 11,251.05, according to the latest available figures. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 4.43 points, or 0.38 percent, at 1,177.07. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 13.36 points, or 0.54 percent, at 2,506.04.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Friday and snapped two days of gains as a slump in consumer confidence reversed an early rally spurred by a jump in July retail sales.

Crude futures also closed the week lower, down for the third straight week, as the consumer confidence data added to fears that the economy may slide back into recession after last week's U.S. credit downgrade.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for September delivery CLU1 settled at $85.38 a barrel, edging down 34 cents, or 0.4 percent, after trading between $84.02 to $87.37.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended modestly firmer to post a third consecutive higher close amid concerns about the size of the U.S. 2011 soy crop, traders said.

But prices pared gains into the closing bell as traders adjusted positions ahead of the weekend.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil rose for a third day on Friday and recovered most of this week's losses on stronger food commodity prices and as a U.S. government forecast of lower soy output pointed to tighter edible oil supply in coming months.

The U.S Agriculture Department lowering its soy output estimate for soybeans below the lowest trade guess comes as some planters in Malaysia say palm oil output in the second half of this year may not be as high as expected.

Palm oil rose above the 3,000 ringgit level, four days after it fell below the key support level for the first time since October last year on concerns that the unfolding U.S. and euro zone debt crisis will stall global economic growth and cloud the commodity demand outlook.

The benchmark October crude palm oil contract KPOc3 on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives settled up 0.7 percent at 3,015 ringgit ($1,005.670) per tonne in seesaw trade.

Overall traded volumes were slightly lower at 22,409 lots of 25 tonnes each compared to the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets bounced back on Friday as investors searched for bargains after heavy selling in recent sessions, but worries over the health of global economy and Europe's debt crisis left emerging market equities vulnerable to further losses in coming weeks.

Singapore stocks .FTSTI lost as much as 9.2 percent at one point during the week, skidding to a 14-month low amid a global market rout before clawing its way back from Thursday's lows.

The Straits Times index rose 1.9 percent on Friday, helping paring losses for the week to 4.8 percent.

Despite the bounce in some centreson Friday, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam remain in oversold territory with their Relative Strength Indexes (RSI) below the 30 level. Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila are hovering around 40.

Commodities boosted Singapore with palm oil producers Golden Agri-Resources GAGR.SI and Wilmar International WLIL.SI gaining as much as 3.2 percent and 2 percent, respectively, after reporting strong quarterly earnings.
Singapore's third-largest lender, United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI, closed 2 percent firmer before posting a 5.6 percent rise in second-quarter net profit.