Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rebounded from two days of sharp losses on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said it is prepared to do more for the economy if conditions warrant, helping to stanch the panicky reaction to Europe's debt crisis.

Trading volume was light, however, possibly signaling that worries about Greece hold greater sway than the Fed at this time. Investors sold heavily this week after Greece said it would hold a referendum on an EU bailout crucial to stabilizing the euro zone's financial system.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI>; rose 178.08 points, or 1.53 percent, at 11,836.04. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX>; gained 19.62 points, or 1.61 percent, at 1,237.90. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC>; added 33.02 points, or 1.27 percent, at 2,639.98.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - U.S. crude ended slightly higher after volatile trading on Wednesday as the weak dollar and stronger Wall Street shares provided support even as concerns about Greece and euro zone debt problems curbed oil's gains.

U.S. crude posted a higher finish after three consecutive losing sessions. The euro climbed against the dollar, snapping three days of losses, in volatile trading as a showdown looms between Greece and monetary authorities over a bailout that would prevent a Greek default.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, December crude rose 32 cents, or 0.35 percent, to settle at $92.51 a barrel, trading from $90.97 to $93.79.

CBOT-SOYBEANS,Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed nearly flat with early gains pared on pressure from falling corn futures and hesitant new net buying amid continued global economic uncertainty.

Informa Economics pegged 2011 U.S. soybean production and yield above expectations. Traders said there was talk that China bought 2-4 cargoes of U.S. soy. Cash soybean markets were firm.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures climbed 1.2 percent on Wednesday as traders looked to a developing La Nina weather pattern that could curb production of the tropical oil.

La Nina-driven heavy rains at the end of the year could coincide with the monsoon season, stalling harvesting and supporting palm oil futures that have lost almost 22 percent so far this year.

Benchmark January palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 1.2 percent at 2,958 ringgit ($948) a tonne after going as high as 2,966 ringgit. Overall traded volumes stood at 23,130 lots at 25 tonnes each, compared to the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The main Southeast Asian stock markets clawed higher on Wednesday as quarterly results and optimism about interest rates lifted banks, with hopes growing that the U.S. Federal Reserve may consider further measures to revive the economy.

Late buying helped reverse early losses in most markets as sentiment in Europe picked up initially, although markets there turned lower after the close in Asia.

Indonesia and Singapore rose after two-day falls, with Jakarta's Composite Index <.JKSE> rising 2.1 percent and Singapore's Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> up 1.6 percent. Thai stocks <.SETI> ended up 1 percent after Tuesday's 1.9 percent drop.

Malaysia <.KLSE> edged down 0.3 percent, recouping some of its early losses of 1.2 percent to a one-week low. Philippine shares <.PSI> dropped 1.7 percent, resuming trade after a market holiday, and Vietnam <.VNI> fell 1.5 percent.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled on Tuesday after investors were blindsided by a surprise call for a Greek referendum on an EU bailout plan, casting doubt on the sustainability of the recent market rally.

The S&P 500 has slid more than 5 percent so far this week in moves reminiscent of the stomach-churning market swings seen over the past two months and after investors thought the worst of the euro zone debt crisis was over.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 297.05 points, or 2.48 percent, at 11,657.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX lost 35.02 points, or 2.79 percent, at 1,218.28. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC dropped 77.45 points, or 2.89 percent, at 2,606.96.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell for the third straight session on Tuesday, after a shock proposal for a Greek referendum cast doubt on whether a European bailout plan could contain the euro zone debt crisis.

Data showing weaker factory activity in China, Britain and the United States added to worries about the global outlook for oil demand.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for December delivery settled at $92.19 a barrel, falling $1.00, or 1.07 percent, after trading between $89.17 and $92.88.

CBOT-SOYBEAN,Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed lower on a strong dollar, weak equities and lower crude oil but losses were pared by late bargain buying.

A shock announcement of a Greek referendum on its bailout was dragging down markets worldwide. This week's bankruptcy filing by futures trading giant MF Global Holdings Ltd led to volatile trading. USDA late on Monday said 87 percent of the U.S. soybean crop had been harvested, up from 80 percent a week ago and above the 79 percent five-year average.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures slipped on Tuesday on concerns over the effectiveness of the euro zone bailout package, although a focus on heavy rains stalling production of the vegetable oil limited losses.

Risk appetite waned after Greece decided to put the country's bailout to a referendum, casting doubt on the euro zone's plan to stem the debt crisis and prevent economic growth from stalling.

Benchmark January palm oil futures FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled down 0.5 percent to 2,923 ringgit ($952.738).

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell in light volume on Tuesday as renewed worries about Europe's debt crisis prompted investors to cut exposure to riskier assets, with resource shares under selling pressure because of losses in global oil prices.

Late selling sent Indonesian shares .JKSE almost 3 percent lower to the lowest in a week. Singapore .FTSTI plunged 2.3 percent, its biggest fall in a month, while Thailand .SETI, Malaysia .KLSE and Vietnam .VNI lost at least 1 percent.

Singapore's Keppel Corp Ltd KPLM.SI, the world's largest rig builder, plunged 5.2 percent and Thai petrochemical firm PTT Global Chemical Pcl PTTGC.BK fell 1.9 percent.

Malaysia saw outflows of $9.5 million after $315 million in foreign inflows since last week while Indonesia had $6.7 million in outflows after $0.2 million on Monday and $253 million in inflows last week, Thomson Reuters and stock exchange data showed.