Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks suffered their worst drop in a month after the Federal Reserve said there were "significant downside risks" to the economy even as it took another stab at boosting growth.

Selling accelerated as volume spiked in the last hour of trading, with banks and insurers leading the decline, as the KBW Bank index .BKX slid 5.5 percent and the KBW Insurance index .KIX off 5.2 percent. Bank of America BAC.N lost 7.5 percent to $6.38 and Prudential Financial Inc PRU.N slid 6.6 percent to $45.73.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 283.82 points, or 2.49 percent, to 11,124.84. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX lost 35.33 points, or 2.94 percent, to 1,166.76. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC fell 52.05 points, or 2.01 percent, to 2,538.19.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended more than 1 percent lower on Wednesday as analysts deemed new easing measures by the Federal Reserve insufficient to jump-start the stalling U.S. economy.

Crude futures were already trading in negative territory before the Federal Reserve's policymakers, at the conclusion of a two-day meeting, issued a statement that, as expected, would put more downward pressure on long-term interest rates.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for November delivery CLX1 settled at $85.92 a barrel, falling $1, or 1.15 percent, after trading between $85.05 and $87.99.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell to a six-week low on concerns about poor export demand for U.S. soybeans and seasonal pressure from the approaching U.S. harvest, traders said.

Market fell to session lows near the closing bell. Benchmark November soybeans SX1 fell below Monday's low of $13.26 and set a six-week low at $13.20.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil barely moved on Wednesday as investors grew wary over attempts to resolve Europe's debt crisis and shore up the U.S. economy against a slide back into recession -- factors that can stall global commodity demand.

Palm oil prices have been see-sawing in September, torn between the bleak global economic outlook and prospects of strong demand ahead of key public holidays in top buyers India and China next month.

Benchmark December palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange shed 1 ringgit to end at 3,066 ringgit ($982.85) per tonne. Overall volumes were light, with 21,933 lots of 25 tonnes each changing hands, compared to the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-Sept 21 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets closed weaker or with marginal gains on Wednesday in thin trade as investors stayed on the sidelines, waiting for a possible move by the U.S. Federal Reserve to spur growth in the world's largest economy.

The Fed is expected to announce plans later on Wednesday to rebalance its portfolio in favour of longer-dated bonds and so push long-term interest rates -- already near historic lows -- even lower in a move known as Operation Twist.

But Malaysia .KLSE recovered from its lowest in over a year to end 0.6 percent firmer with foreign inflows of $5.2 million, while Singapore .FTSTI rose 0.4 percent and Thailand .SETI gained 0.3 percent with $9.6 million in inflows.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby SIME.KL, the world's top palm oil planter by landbank size, jumped 4.2 percent after recent selling. Analysts said the market's concerns over the company's acquisition of a stake in Eastern and Oriental ENOB.KL were overdone.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended little changed on Tuesday as investors waited to see if the U.S. Federal Reserve would offer more economic stimulus and if Greece made progress in talks to avoid a default.

In the lowest volume session since late August, the market gave up earlier gains of about 1 percent as investors were wary of going home with long positions after an overnight downgrade of Italy's credit rating.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 7.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to 11,408.66 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 2.00 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,202.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC lost 22.59 points, or 0.86 percent, to 2,590.24.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose on Tuesday, in choppy trading as the October contract approached expiration and bouncing after sliding the previous session on hopes the Federal Reserve may act to stimulate the economy.

U.S. stocks on Wall Street ended little changed in low volume trading, shedding earlier gains also attributed to hopes that the Fed will indicate new actions to boost a flagging economy when it finishes its two-day meeting on Wednesday.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, expiring October crude CLV1 rose $1.19, or 1.39 percent to settle at $86.89 a barrel, having traded from $85.11 and $87.46.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended higher Tuesday in a short-covering bounce after a six-day sell-off left the market technically oversold, while a drop in weekly U.S. crop ratings added support, traders said.

Strength in crude oil and a setback in the U.S. dollar added support.But soybeans ended off the day's highs on spillover pressure from a retreat in CBOT corn and the approach of the U.S. corn and soy harvest.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures inched up on Tuesday as the weaker ringgit MYR= made the vegetable oil cheaper to process at time when exports could start rising again ahead of an Indian festival and a national holiday in China.

Investors were also bargain hunting after commodity prices declined the previous day on concerns about the euro zone's debt crisis, boosting safe-havens such as the U.S. dollar.

Benchmark December palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 0.9 percent to 3,067 ringgit($985.48) per tonne.

Overall volumes were light, with 16,863 lots of 25 tonnes changing hands, compared to the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-Sept 19 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday, hit by ouflows of global capital, as ratings agency S&P's downgrade of Italy and concerns of a Greek default rattled emerging-market nerves in Asia.

Jakarta suffered outflows of $88.9 million, Bangkok saw outflows of $61.6 million, Manila saw foreign selling of $11.7 million and Kuala Lumpur witnessed outflows of $28.1 million.

Standard and Poor's downgraded its unsolicited ratings on Italy by one notch to A/A-1 and kept its outlook on negative, a major surprise that threatens to add to concerns of contagion in the debt-stressed euro zone amid still unresolved sovereign debt crisis in Greece

Bucking the trend, Thailand .SETI and Singapore .FTSTI gained 0.9 percent each, led by banks with Siam Commercial Bank SCB.BK and Kasikornbank KBAN.BK rising over 2.2 percent in Bangkok and DBS DBSM.SI and United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI gaining 0.4 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - World stocks snapped a four-day rally on Monday, while the euro and oil prices dropped on concern Greece may default on its debt and trigger economic fallout that would cascade throughout the euro zone and possibly beyond.

But U.S. stocks and the euro recovered from their worst levels in late trade after Greece's Finance Ministry said the country was near an agreement with its international lenders to continue receiving bailout funds. U.S. Treasury debt prices pared gains.

Wall Street stocks ended lower despite the late-session rebound. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed down 108.08 points, or 0.94 percent, at 11,401.01. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was down 11.92 points, or 0.98 percent, at 1,204.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was down 9.48 points, or 0.36 percent, at 2,612.83.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell on Monday as mounting concerns about the euro zone debt crisis fueled investor fears about the demand outlook for commodities, pressuring equities and the euro and strengthening the dollar.

World stocks snapped a four-day rally and the the euro fell on concern that Greece may default on its debt and trigger economic fallout that would cascade throughout the euro zone and possibly beyond.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 fell $2.26, or 2.57 percent, to settle at $85.70 a barrel, trading from $84.79 to $87.75.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell to a five-week low and posted a sixth consecutive decline, pressured by fund long liquidation as the dollar firmed on worries about Greek debt, traders said.

The U.S. dollar index .DXY was up 0.6 percent on renewed fears of a Greek debt default, prompting investors to cut risk by selling crude oil, grains and other commodities. [nS1E78I0CG]

U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 were down roughly $2 a barrel, or 2.3 percent, when the CBOT grain markets closed.Benchmark November soybeans SX1 fell to their lowest level since Aug. 12 and unofficially ended below the 200-day moving average of $13.39-3/4.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Monday as Europe stumbled over attempts to solve the euro zone debt crisis, strengthening investor fears commodity demand growth may slow.

Palm oil has lost almost 20 percent so far this year on high stocks and a slowdown in demand, although some traders bet that festival demand in India may see some orders coming in.

Benchmark December palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled down 0.94 percent to 3,041 ringgit ($984.38) per tonne.

Overall trade volumes were light, with 14,092 lots of 25 tonnes changing hands, compared to the usual 25,000 lots, as the market was still quiet after a long weekend.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-Sept 19 (Reuters) - Main Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday , led by financials with Malaysia hitting a more-than one-year low on global concerns after a weekend meeting to solve euro zone sovereign debt crisis ended without progress.

A weekend of disappointing news from the euro zone prompted market players to cut risk and move into gold and U.S. Treasuries, even as speculation grew that the Federal Reserve would announce further policy easing moves to stimulate the sputtering U.S. economy at a meeting this week

Malaysia .KLSE fell 1.2 percent to its lowest close since Aug. 27, 2010, Thailand .SETI fell 1.6 percent to its lowest close since June 28, and Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI fell 1.1 percent.

The cancellation of a visit by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to the United States to chair an emergency cabinet meeting at home, and a regional election defeat for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, added to a sense of worsening crisis.

Shares of Singapore banks were among the biggest losers on the benchmark index, with DBS DBSM.SI down 2.8 percent and United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI 2.3 percent lower.

Malaysia saw net foreign outflows of $15.8 million on Monday with financials AMMB Holdings AMMB.KL and CIMB Group CIMB.KL falling 1.3 percent and 6.9 percent respectively.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK , Sept 16 (Reuters) - Global equities rose for a fourth straight day on Friday, but the euro slid as hope Europe was finally getting a grip on the region's debt crisis was offset by lingering fears Greece is still at risk of default.

The Nasdaq stock market posted its biggest weekly advance since July 2009, and gains elsewhere in global equity markets suggested risk aversion has dissipated.

The euro EUR= headed for its best week in eight against the U.S. dollar, even as it slipped 0.7 percent to $1.3785 on Friday. The announcement on Thursday that the world's leading central banks will boost short-term dollar funding for European banks facing a dollar shortage buoyed the euro.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed up 75.91 points, or 0.66 percent, at 11,509.09. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX gained 6.90 points, or 0.57 percent, at 1,216.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 15.24 points, or 0.58 percent, at 2,622.31.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell more than 1 percent on Friday as uncertainties surrounding the euro zone debt crisis and gloomy consumer outlook in the United States prompted pre-weekend selling.

As the euro dropped on a spate of negative news in Europe, the dollar rose, encouraging investors to unwind some risky bets in oil futures.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled at $87.96 a barrel, dropping $1.44, or 1.61 percent, after trading from $87.00 to $89.78.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade ended narrowly mixed as spillover pressure from weaker U.S. crude oil prices and a firmer dollar offset support from short-covering, traders said.

Trading volume in soybean futures was down about 10 percent from the 30-day average.

Spot soybean futures Sc1 ended the week down 4.6 percent, their biggest weekly drop since early May, amid fund long liquidation.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures hit+ a near six-week high on Thursday, boosted by currencies and firmer crude prices, although concerns over falling exports and lingering economic uncertainty capped gains.

Benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange added 0.4 percent to close at 3,078 Malaysian ringgit ($999) per tonne, off an earlier low of 3,036 ringgit.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Some Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Friday as financials bounced back, with global sentiment reviving on hopes European policymakers would finally come up with a bold plan to combat a deepening debt crisis.

Still, trading volume was relatively light as a long-term solution to the euro zone's sovereign debt issues remained uncertain, and stocks in the region suffered their worst weekly loss this month.

The battered region lured some bargain hunters as the healthy outlook for domestic consumption boded well for some sectors, such as consumer, property and banks, brokers said.

Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI edged up 0.8 percent, extending gains for a third session. Philippine stocks .PSI ended nearly flat, erasing early gains, while Thai shares .SETI eased 0.3 percent, after an early climb.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose 1 percent in a third day of gains on Wednesday after European leaders displayed new urgency in efforts to contain the euro zone debt crisis.

German and French leaders called on Greece to implement all financial reforms "strictly and effectively," a German government spokesman said.

Greece expects policymakers to report that Athens is on track to fulfill its targets and receive the aid it needs to avoid any chance of a debt default, a Greek official said.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 140.88 points, or 1.27 percent, at 11,246.73. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 15.81 points, or 1.35 percent, at 1,188.68. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 40.40 points, or 1.60 percent, at 2,572.55.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended lower on Wednesday in choppy trading after a government report showed rising refined products inventories and weak demand for gasoline, offsetting a bigger-than-expected drop in crude stocks.

U.S. commercial crude oil stocks fell 6.7 million barrels last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 fell $1.30, or 1.44 percent, to settle at $88.91 a barrel, trading from $88.21 to $90.25.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell, with benchmark November notching a sixth decline in the last seven sessions on technical selling and seasonal pressure ahead of the U.S. harvest, traders said.

A drop of roughly 1.5 percent in U.S. crude oil futures weighed on soy prices, which are linked to crude through the soy-based biodiesel market.

Trade was light, with soybean futures volume down nearly 25 percent from the 250-day average.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures reversed early losses on Wednesday, with investors citing an over-sold market and fluctuations in currencies, but gains were capped by a bigger-than-expected U.S. soybean crop outlook.

Benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange added 1.5 percent to end at 3,065 Malaysian ringgit ($1,002) per tonne. Earlier, prices hit a low of 2,989 ringgit, the weakest since Sept. 6.

Traded volumes for the November contract stood at 13,520 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared with 9,867 lots on Tuesday.
Benchmark prices have added 0.5 percent this week, with gains limited by a better-than-expected production outlook for the U.S. soy crop.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture unexpectedly raised its U.S. crop production outlook by 1 percent in a monthly report, despite forecasts for a smaller crop due to hot, dry weather this summer

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Wednesday as mounting euro zone debt concerns eroded broad market sentiment, with banks under pressure from the global banking crisis.

The outperforming region faced outflows of global capital on worries over euro zone debt and global economic uncertainty.

Worst hit was Indonesia, whose benchmark Jakarta Composite Index .JKSE slid 1.95 percent. Jakarta had $166 million in outflows, its biggest since August 19, as the rupiah IDR=ID, fell, Thomson Reuters data showed.

Singapore's DBS Group Holdings DBSM.SI eased 0.3 percent, extending its losses for a fifth session to the lowest in more than two years. Thailand's biggest Bangkok Bank BBL.BK fell 0.7 percent to seven-month lows.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks gained on Tuesday as investors bought shares beaten down in recent weeks and bet European leaders would take action soon to ease the Greek debt crisis.

Worries the euro zone crisis could tip the global economy into another recession have pummeled stocks, though the selling has reached a level that some argue a Greek default is priced in to the market.

Investors appeared to be pinning hopes on progress being made during a conference call planned between French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 44.73 points, or 0.40 percent, at 11,105.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 10.60 points, or 0.91 percent, at 1,172.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 37.06 points, or 1.49 percent, at 2,532.15.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rose on Tuesday, ending at the highest level in five weeks as the dollar weakened and forecasters called for weekly data to show a drawdown in crude stocks.

Traders shrugged off a lower oil demand growth forecast from the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled at $90.21 a barrel, gaining $2.02, or 2.29 percent, after trading between $87.81 and $90.52. It was the highest settlement for front-month crude since Aug. 3, when prices closed at $91.93 CLc1.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell on spillover pressure from corn and wheat, but ended off the day's lows as concerns about a frost threat in the U.S. Midwest underpinned the market, traders said.

A setback in the U.S. dollar .DXY and strength in crude oil also helped to limit declines.

Benchmark November soybean futures SX1 dipped to $13.82, the contract's lowest level since Aug. 22, but pared losses before the closing bell.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures retreated on Tuesday from near one-month highs hit the previous day as a better-than-expected production outlook for the U.S. soy crop signalled improving vegetable oil supplies.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture unexpectedly raised its U.S. crop production outlook by 1 percent in a monthly report, despite forecasts for a smaller crop due to hot, dry weather this summer

Benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 1.7 percent to end at 3,019 Malaysian ringgit ($996) per tonne.

Prices the previous day hit a near one-month peak at 3,076 but fell to a near one-week low at 3,012 on Tuesday.

Traded volumes for the November contract stood at 9,867 lots of 25 tonnes each compared with 5,862 lots on Monday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets retreated on Tuesday, with big-caps and financials giving up early gains as a tentative recovery rally in global stocks lost steam.

Southeast Asia's markets ended near their day's lows as investors cashed in, shadowing losses in Europe as speculation faded over the prospect of China buying Italian bonds.

Late selling pulled Singapore .FTSTI and Thai stocks .SETI down to around three-week lows, with shares in Indonesia .JKSE hovering around the lowest in a week.

Brokers expect further downside near term.
Trading volumes plunged across major markets partly due to holidays in Hong Kong and South Korea. Turnover in the Philippines fell to 0.3 times its monthly average, with volumes of others sliding to around two-thirds the average.

Recently beaten-down blue chips such as energy, food and banks gained in early trade. In general, financial profiles of Southeast Asian firms are strong and the region is widely expected to withstand the global economic slowdown.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Monday, bouncing back in late trading, as hopes that Italy could get financial support from China tempered investors' worst fears over the euro zone's sovereign debt crisis.

Traders started the day braced for a possible downgrade of France's top banks by Moody's Investors Service, but sentiment improved as various European officials succeeded in tamping down fears that political and financial leaders were losing control of the situation.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI finished up 68.99 points, or 0.63 percent, at 11,061.12. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 8.04 points, or 0.70 percent, at 1,162.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC ended 27.10 points higher, or 1.10 percent, at 2,495.09.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rose on Monday, propped up by spread trading with Brent crude, which took a hit from concerns about the euro zone debt crisis that could weaken Europe's economy and dent oil demand.

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth for 2011 and 2012 citing a worsening economic outlook. limiting the day's gains.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled at $88.19 a barrel, gaining 95 cents, or 1.09 percent. It had traded between $85 and $88.95.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell after the U.S. Department of Agriculture surprised the market by raising its forecast of the U.S. 2011 soybean yield in a monthly report, traders said.

Market pressured as traders unwound long soy/short corn inter-market spreads. Active trade in soybean futures with volume near 200,000 contracts, about 30 percent higher than the 30-day average.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures traded near one-month highs on Monday, in line with other vegetable oil markets, as investors positioned themselves ahead of key industry data from the United States.

Benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended up 0.7 percent at 3,071 Malaysian ringgit ($1,023) per tonne. Prices earlier hit a peak at 3,076.

Exchange volumes for the November contract were thin at 5,862 lots of 25 tonnes each versus 7,895 lots on Friday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's stock markets retreated on Monday as pessimism over the euro zone debt crisis triggered broad sell-offs in regional blue chips, with Indonesia and Singapore seeing their biggest losses in three weeks.

Volumes were light, about two-thirds the region's monthly average, in part due to holidays in big Asian centres including China, Taiwan and South Korea.

Among most actively traded, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. STEL.SI dropped 2.3 percent, Indonesia's largest lender Bank Mandiri BMRI.JK plunged 4.2 percent and Thai top energy firm PTT PTT.BK eased 2.2 percent with oil prices falling.

Southeast Asia reported foreign outflows and falling currencies on Monday, with the Singapore dollar SGD= hitting its lowest level in more than two months amid market speculation that Singapore's central bank may ease its monetary policy next month

Malaysia posted outflows of 96 million ringgit ($32 million), stock exchange data showed. Indonesia reported $31.8 milion in outflows, with the Philippines seeing $6.4 million in outflows and Vietnam $0.04 million, Thomson Reuters data showed.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index .FTSTI plunged 2.9 percent to 2,743.58. Ng Kian Teck, lead analyst at SIAS Research in Singapore, expects the STI to trade downward for the rest of the week, with support eyed at 2,700 points.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks tumbled more than 2 percent on Friday after the top German official at the European Central Bank resigned in protest of the bank's bond-buying program, which has been a major tool in fighting the region's debt crisis.

The resignation of Juergen Stark from the ECB throws into question policymakers' ability to deal with Europe's debt crisis, a problem that could engulf a world economy already teetering on the brink of recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 303.68 points, or 2.69 percent, to 10,992.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX dropped 31.67 points, or 2.67 percent, to 1,154.23. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC dropped 61.15 points, or 2.42 percent, to 2,467.99.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures slumped more than 2 percent on Friday on economic worries and as a stronger dollar encouraged selling of assets such as oil.

Crude futures fell with Wall Street and major commodities on risk aversion as the euro slid to a more than six-month low against the dollar due to turmoil in the European Central Bank and euro zone debt problems.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled at $87.24 a barrel, falling $1.81, or 2.03 percent, after trading from $85.64 to $89.50.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher on short-covering ahead of a key crop report on Monday in which the U.S. government is expected to cut its soy production forecast, traders said.

Weather forecasts indicating the potential for a frost in northern fringes of the U.S. Midwest crop belt next week added support.Benchmark November soybeans SX1 ended the week down 1.3 percent.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Friday as traders took up positions ahead of a slew of industry reports that could shed light on a decline in vegetable oil supplies.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's supply-demand report on Monday will update the agency's crop forecasts in the light of hot and dry weather hurting U.S. soy yields that could lift soyoil's premium to palm oil.

On the same day, industry regulator Malaysian Palm Oil Board will issue August stocks data that may show declines for a second month as exports and local demand outstrip production during a key Muslim festival.

But cargo surveyors are likely to show a drop in Malaysian exports for the period September 1-10 as buying normalises, although some traders say top importers India and China are waiting for prices to fall still more before committing.

The benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 0.8 percent at 3,050 ringgit ($1,019.56) per tonne.

Exchange volumes stood at 16,106 lots at 25 tonnes each versus the usual 25,000 lots in muted trading ahead of the industry data next week.

Cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services is set to issue Malaysia's Sept. 1-10 palm oil exports and traders expect the levels at 379,000 tonnes -- some 36 percent lower than the same period a month ago.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets slid lower on Friday, led by losses in big caps and financials, as investors remained wary about global uncertainty and U.S. President Barack Obama's speech on a jobs package failed to revive sentiment.

Late selling kicked in, pushing sharemarkets into negative terrain. The region was treading water in early trading hours as global sentiment stalled after Western central banks failed to offer any fresh stimulus plans.

Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI finished down 1.1 percent in a choppy session that sent the index to a 1-week high at one point. Philippine stocks .PSI, Indonesia .JKSE and Malaysia .KLSE posted limited losses.

Among weak spots, shares in Thai drinks company Serm Suk SSC.BK plunged 7.3 percent to 57.25 baht after Singapore-listed Thai Beverage TBEV.SI announced a takeover bid for Serm Suk SSC.BK at a lower-than-market price of 58 baht.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke gave no indications of new stimulus measures to boost the flagging economy in a keenly awaited speech.

Investors have been looking to Bernanke, who gave his outlook on the U.S. economy on Thursday, and other policymakers to address a host of concerns from slowing global growth to Europe's debt crisis.

A rise in jobless claims reported earlier in the day underscored the weakness in the U.S. economy and came ahead of a speech by President Barack Obama. Obama is due to speak at 7 p.m. and is expected lay out a plan for creating jobs.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 119.05 points, or 1.04 percent, to 11,295.81. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 12.72 points, or 1.06 percent, to 1,185.90. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC lost 19.80 points, or 0.78 percent, to 2,529.14.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged lower in choppy trading on Thursday as Wall Street fell and the dollar strengthened after the U.S. Federal Reserve Chief failed to outline new steps to spur economic growth in a speech.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank would spare no effort to boost disappointingly weak growth and reduce unemployment, while downplaying concerns about inflation.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 fell 29 cents, or 0.32 percent, to settle at $89.05 a barrel, trading from $88.59 to $90.23.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell for a third straight session as the dollar .DXY rallied and traders positioned ahead of a jobs speech by U.S. President Obama later Thursday and USDA's September crop report next week.

A poll indicated that most analysts see the U.S. 2011 soybean crop as larger than 3 billion bushels, a factor that eased worries about supplies.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Thursday in tandem with other vegetable oil markets as investors booked some profits although the tropical oil's deepening discount to competing soyoil limited losses.

Vegetable oil markets are likely to make little headway ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's supply-demand report on Monday, which will update the agency's crop forecasts.

Hot and dry weather has hurt U.S. soybean yields, making crude palm oil at least $220 cheaper than soyoil that could shift demand to the tropical oil. This could lift the market that has fallen almost a fifth on concerns the euro zone debt could stall global economic growth.

The benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled down 0.6 percent to 3,023 ringgit ($1,013.41) per tonne in choppy trade. Exchange volumes stood at 24,744 lots at 25 tonnes each versus the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets posted limited gains in light volume on Thursday, led by commodities-related shares, but investors remained wary amid uncertainty over a euro zone debt crisis and the faltering U.S. economy.

Market turnover fell below monthly average for most in the region. Late buying kicked in as global stocks edged up ahead of a European Central Bank meeting seen calling a halt to its rate tightening cycle to support economies.

Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI ended up 0.87 percent at its day's high of 2,856.90, with stocks in Malaysia .KLSE, Indonesia .JKSE and Thailand .SETI posting smaller gains.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Wall Street bounced more than 2 percent on Wednesday, reversing three days of losses after Germany's top court smoothed the way for Berlin's participation in bailouts that could ease Europe's debt crisis.

But investor caution that there remains a long road to recovery was underscored by light trading and continued high volatility as shown in the CBOE VIX volatility index

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 275.56 points, or 2.47 percent, to 11,414.86. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX rose 33.38 points, or 2.86 percent, to 1,198.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 75.11 points, or 3.04 percent, to 2,548.94.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures rebounded sharply on Wednesday, ending at a five-week high on forecasts that inventory data would show a drawdown in crude stocks last week and concerns that more stormy weather could hit the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

The dollar fell as appetite returned for riskier assets, and Wall Street rallied after three days of losses as Europe's debt concerns eased. Both were supportive for crude oil futures, traders said.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled at $89.34 a barrel, rising $3.32, or 3.86 percent, the highest close since Aug. 3's $91.93 on a continuous price chart. The day's gain was the the biggest one-day percentage rise since Aug. 10, when prices rose 4.53 percent. The contract traded from $86.15 to $89.74.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell for a second session, retreating from an early rally on technical selling and softening cash markets ahead of the U.S. harvest, traders said.

Soyoil ended higher as a sharp rally in crude oil buoyed biodiesel prospects.
Cash basis bids for soybeans were down sharply in parts of the U.S. Midwest interior, pressured by slow demand and the approaching harvest, merchandisers said.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures bounced on Wednesday as traders bet on demand shifting to the tropical oil as U.S. soybean crop conditions deteriorate and tighten soyoil supplies.

Traders said the market was oversold the previous day on concerns about the worsening euro zone debt crisis that could stall global economic growth.

Prices also drew support from market views that Malaysian palm oil stocks in August likely fell for a second straight month as exports and local demand outstrip sluggish production during a key Muslim festival.

Benchmark November palm oil FCPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 1.9 percent to 3,042 Malaysian ringgit ($1,021) per tonne. The previous day, the contract fell to 2,978 ringgit -- a level unseen since Aug. 26.

Exchange volumes stood at 16,182 lots at 25 tonnes each versus the usual 25,000 lots with trading interest muted after last week's long holidays.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets climbed higher on Wednesday as investors piled into consumer and telecoms sectors amid improving global sentiment, helped partly by positive data from the United States.

The region's rally came late in the day and with light turnover, with caution lingering about the a euro zone debt crisis and worries that major economies were headed for another recession.

Indonesia's main share index .JKSE jumped 2.9 percent, the highest leap in almost one month, Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI climbed 2.1 percent and Vietnam's .VNI main index rose 1.8 percent.

Stocks in Malaysia .KLSE, Thailand .SETI and the Philippines .PSI posted smaller gains.

Singapore-listed TAC TACC.SI surged 5.7 percent. The telecom buying spree came amid hopes for a launch of long-delayed auction of new third-generation telecommunications licences after a selection of a new industry regulator

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Wall Street fell for a third day on Tuesday on fears Europe still has failed to tackle its debt crisis, prompting worries the market is headed to new lows for the year.

Investors channeled cash into less risky assets as doubts resurfaced over the political will of Italy and Greece to push through tough budget measures and as Germany hardened its stand against providing more aid. The worries over the European debt crisis renewed fears that the global economy could fall into recession.

The S&P 500 is now down 14.5 percent from its highest point in 2011, reached at the end of April. Though investors have periodically taken heart from signs that Europe has carved out a plan to deal with its festering crisis, confidence has been repeatedly walloped every time there is a development showing that the problems have not been solved.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 100.96 points, or 0.90 percent, to 11,139.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 8.73 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,165.24. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC lost 6.50 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,473.83.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures fell for a second session Tuesday on worries that the euro zone debt crisis could stifle world economic growth, but a new weather disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico pared losses sharply.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the new weather system has a 30 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone in the next couple of days.

Resuming trade after the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend, crude for October delivery CLV1 settled on the New York Mercantile Exchange at $86.02 a barrel, down 43 cents, or 0.5 percent, after trading from $83.20 to $86.50.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell on Tuesday as the dollar rose on fears of a widening debt crisis in Europe and a slowing U.S. economy, traders said.

The U.S. dollar index .DXY was higher for a sixth straight session and U.S. equity markets fell.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell to their lowest in almost two weeks on Tuesday as investors fretted over the worsening euro zone debt crisis that could put the brakes on economic growth and commodity demand.

In the past few weeks, the palm oil market has been supported by solid export demand in August and prospects of a stock draw in No.2 palm oil producer Malaysia.

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract FCPOc3 dropped as much as 1.3 percent to 2,978 ringgit ($1,000.487)-- a level unseen since Aug. 26. The contract later settled at 2,985 ringgit.

Traded volumes stood at 23,014 lots at 25 tonnes each versus the usual 25,000 lots as more trading interest came back after the long holidays last week.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Some Southeast Asian stock markets edged up on Tuesday as investors took their leads from European bourses by buying beaten-down consumer stocks and helping to offset losses in banks and commodities-related shares.

A contagion fear of eurozone debt crisis and renewed worries about U.S. recession put a lid on risk appetite, weighing down early sharemarket sentiment across Southeast Asia.

Trading volume remained weak for most of the region and global uncertainty cast doubts over the outlook of corporate earnings that capped potential stock price upside.

At the close, Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI edged up 0.04 percent, falling as much as 1.35 percent at one point. Stocks in Indonesia .JKSE and Thailand .SETI each ended up 0.6 percent, with Vietnam .VNI up 0.1 percent.

Malaysia .KLSE finished down 0.6 percent and the Philippines .PSI dropped 1.8 percent.

Trader's Highlight

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell 1.1 percent on Monday with few leads as U.S. markets were shut for a holiday although investors feared hot and dry weather might slash soy crop yields in the Midwest and spur demand for the Asian edible oil.

Firm palm oil exports have given support to benchmark palm oil futures that have lost about a fifth so far this year on high stocks, concerns over global economic slowdown and volatile financial markets

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract FCPOc3 settled down 32 ringgit at 3,018 ringgit ($1,018.13)a tonne.

Traded volumes were still thin at 11,999 lots of 25 tonnes each versus the usual 25,000 lots after markets opened from a long holiday last week and amid weak interest since U.S. markets were shut for a public holiday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday as dismal U.S. jobs data renewed fears of a U.S. recession, turning regional big caps under selling pressure and commodity stocks pulled lower along with weak global oil prices.

Mounting risks of the impact of slowing global growth on earnings of listed firms prompted investors to cut their positions. Market turnover was off its monthly average.

Traders were sidelined in the absence of indicators from Wall Street which was shut on Monday and as European shares fell, extending their previous session slide.

The region gave back last week's gains with Singapore stocks .FTSTI suffering their biggest losses in two weeks, finishing down 2.5 percent, after a 3.5 percent gain last week.

Singapore was among Asian countries with a higher share of exports to Western countries, that could be hurt if the United States or European economies continued to slow.

Stocks in Malaysia .KLSE, Thailand .SETI and the Philippines .PSI posted smaller falls. Vietnam .VNI inched up 0.1 percent and Indonesia .JKSE edged up 0.6 percent, rising as much as 1.8 percent at one point, on resuming trade after holidays last week.

Brokers in the region expect near term market weakness as global economic prospects continue to worsen markedly.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks tumbled on Friday, with major indexes falling as much as 2 percent as data showed U.S. jobs growth flatlined in August, exacerbating worries the economy is faltering.

Nonfarm payrolls generated no new jobs last month as sagging consumer confidence discouraged already skittish businesses from hiring, keeping pressure on the U.S. Federal Reserve to provide more monetary stimulus to the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 180.88 points, or 1.57 percent, to 11,312.69. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 21.17 points, or 1.76 percent, to 1,183.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC lost 40.18 points, or 1.58 percent, to 2,505.86.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell on Friday ahead of August jobs data from the United States and as tropical weather coupled with the potential for a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico kept some energy production shut.

U.S. stock index futures fell ahead of labor market data expected to underscore fears the economy is headed for another recession and as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis resurfaced.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 fell $1.16, or 1.3 percent, to $87.77 a barrel by 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT), trading from $87.73 to $88.99.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade rallied on Friday on concerns about the size of the U.S. soy and corn crops, and posted a fourth consecutive weekly advance.

Strength in CBOT corn led the grains and oilseeds complex higher. Short-covering after Thursday's sell-off added support. Rally limited by a drop in U.S. equities and crude oil following a U.S jobs report that led to more concern about the health of the economy.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose 1.4 percent on Friday, boosted by gains in other vegetable oils while the market was closed for a holiday, but worries about the health of the global economy put a cap on prices.

At the close, the benchmark November crude palm oil contract KPOc3 was at 3,050 Malaysian ringgit ($1,022) a tonne. It had earlier touched 3,069 ringgit, its highest since Aug. 23.

Traded volumes for the contract were still thin at 6,215 lots of 25 tonnes each, although recovered from 2,862 lots on Monday, before many markets closed for the Muslim feast of Eid-ul-Fitr and other holidays.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Singapore and Thailand edged lower on Friday as banks fizzled following recent gains and resource shares fell in line with weak oil prices ahead of U.S. jobs data that could provide a glimpse into the health of global economy.

Losses in Singapore and Thailand came in light volume, with market turnover in each well below monthly averages and investors reluctant to increase positions.

Despite flagging sentiment, the region ended the week strongly after month-end buying and as funds re-entered after sell-offs in August on hopes of strong consumption.

Among outperformers, Singapore's Straits Times Index .FTSTI posted a 3.5 percent gain on the week, its biggest since March and Southeast Asia's second-best, trailing Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange index .VNI, which surged 7.6 percent, the region's best.

Stocks in Malaysia .KLSE jumped almost 2 percent on Friday upon resuming trade after a 3-1/2 day break, as Kuala Lumpur caught up with a regional rally. Financial stock CIMB CIMB.BK surged 4.7 percent.

Breaking News-RTRS - Indonesia to cap palm export tax at 22.5 pct

JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, will cap its export tax for the edible oil at 22.5 percent from 25 percent previously, a trade ministry official said on Thursday.
The changes, which include setting the minimum for the export tax at 7.5 percent versus 1.5 pct previously, will take effect from Oct. 1, the trade ministry official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
The export tax cap on palm oil olein products (downstream), was cut to 13 percent from 25 percent, according to finance ministry documents, which set the implementation date on 30 days from Aug. 15.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell on Thursday as investors raised cash ahead of a critical speech from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, hoping he will give them a clearer picture of the Fed's plans for the struggling economy.

Several negatives contributed to the market's weakness after three days of gains. Jitters over a sharp drop in German stocks and a report showing continued U.S. job market weakness helped fuel the selling.

Stocks rose earlier this week, partly on expectation the soft U.S. economy could trigger another round of monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve, much like the one suggested by Bernanke at the same conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a year ago.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI dropped 170.89 points, or 1.51 percent, to 11,149.82. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX fell 18.33 points, or 1.56 percent, to 1,159.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC lost 48.06 points, or 1.95 percent, to 2,419.63.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures edged up on Thursday in a volatile session as refined products futures surged on concerns that Hurricane Irene will disrupt supply on the East Coast.

The storm was projected to hit the U.S. eastern seaboard by the weekend, and the U.S. Coast Guard was closely monitoring its track but had not imposed any traffic restrictions on the New York Harbor, the delivery hub for NYMEX-traded gasoline futures.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 rose 14 cents, or 0.16 percent, to settle at $85.30 a barrel, having traded from $83.01 to $86.56.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade closed slightly lower on profit-taking after the market hit a one-month high this week and on selling due to a firmer dollar, traders said.

Traders were reluctant to establish large positions ahead of a key speech Friday by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that could announce a new round of measures to stimulate the economy.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Thursday on worries over slower overseas demand after top producer Indonesia revised its export tax structure that could make its shipments cheaper and on caution over the global economy.

Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, will cap its export tax for the edible oil at 22.5 percent from 25.0 percent previously, a trade ministry official said on Thursday

The changes, which take effect from Oct. 1, could make shipments cheaper than those from the world's No.2 producer, weighing on Malaysian palm oil futures.

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives KPOc3 fell as much as 1.9 percent to 2,978 ringgit ($1,000.504) a tonne before paring some losses to end 1.4 percent lower.

Overall traded volume was 20,899 lots of 25 tonnes each, below the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-HONG KONG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks were mostly lower on Thursday, underperforming other Asian markets as foreign investors seeking value showed a preference for markets such as China and Hong Kong.

Regional markets got an initial lift as global equities rallied but the gains faded towards the close, with Thailand's SET index .SETI the worst performer, ending down 1.9 percent.

Analysts at Credit Suisse said in a report that the Indonesian market's price-to-book ratio at about 3.6 is more than double the 1.5 seen during the lows of the 2008/09 financial crisis.

Malaysia's Sime Darby SIME.KL, which returned to a profit in its fourth quarter following a dismal performance a year before, rose 1.2 percent.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks posted strong gains for a second day on Wednesday as investors jumped back into beaten-down financial shares and backed away from safer assets like gold in volatile trading.

The stock market swung back and forth as investors anticipated a key speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday. There had been hope the Fed chief would hint of stimulus to aid the struggling economy, but a more likely outcome is for gradual measures.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 142.51 points, or 1.28 percent, at 11,319.27. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 15.19 points, or 1.31 percent, at 1,177.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 21.63 points, or 0.88 percent, at 2,467.69.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Wednesday as investors worried that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke may not signal another round of economic stimulus when he gives highly anticipated speech on Friday.

A late downturn erased gains spawned by an unexpected drawdown in domestic crude inventories last week and data showing a sharp increase in U.S. durable goods orders in July.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude CLV1 settled in light volume at $85.16 a barrel, dipping 28 cents, or 0.33 percent, after trading from $84.55 to $86.59.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed lower, reversing from early strength as traders took profits after a three-day rally and amid an uncertain global economic outlook.

Ongoing concerns about the size of the 2011 U.S. soybean crop underpinned the market.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures edged lower on Wednesday on an uncertain global economic outlook and weaker commodity markets although hopes for strong export data curbed losses.

Palm oil has lost about 18 percent so far this year thanks to a stock build and financial markets turning volatile over the grim outlook in the United States and Europe and efforts by central bankers to prop up these economies.

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives KPOc3 settled down more than 1 percent to 3,036 ringgit ($1,023.77). The previous day the contract touched a one-week high of 3,070 ringgit.

Overall traded volume was light at 19,825 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Wednesday after ratings agency Moody's downgraded Japan, making investors wary of risky assets and dampening regional sentiment.

Markets failed to sustain early gains that were fuelled by speculation the Federal Reserve may signal further moves to support the struggling U.S. economy in Chairman Ben Bernanke's speech on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Stocks in Singapore .FTSTI dropped 1.6 percent, Southeast Asia's worst on the day. Losses for Malaysia .KLSE and Thai stocks .SETI were smaller of around 1 percent each. The Philippines .PSI inched down 0.2 percent.

Asian shares fell on Wednesday ahead of Bernanke's speech, while Japanese shares sold off on Moody's downgrade.

Southeast Asian stocks have lost much of their recent upward momentum and trade below previous highs, including all-time highs for Malaysia set in July, Indonesia and the Philippines early this month, as investors are less optimistic across the board.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - World stocks eked out a gain on Monday, stabilizing after the previous four weeks of sharp losses, while Brent crude prices slipped on prospects Libya's civil war will soon end.

U.S. stocks struggled to end barely higher, while gold, a traditional safe haven, hit a third consecutive all-time high near $1,900 after staging its biggest weekly gain in 2-1/2 years last week.

Sharp volatility in stocks, which has marked trading in recent weeks, underscored investor nervousness.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 37.00 points, or 0.34 percent, at 10,854.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 0.29 point, or 0.03 percent, at 1,123.82. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC added 3.54 points, or 0.15 percent, at 2,345.38.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures ended higher in volatile trading on Monday as gains on Wall Street lifted sentiment toward oil.

U.S. crude's discount to Brent crude narrowed from a record above $26 on Friday, as Brent fell on hopes Libyan oil production would restart soon, with the end to the country's civil war looming

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for September delivery CLU1 expired and settled at $84.12 a barrel, gaining $1.86, or 2.26 percent, and trading from $81.13 to $84.67.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Aug 22 (Reuters) - Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher, lifted by concerns about disappointing weekend rains in the U.S. Midwest and the impact on soy yield prospects, traders said. Strength in U.S. crude oil futures and equity markets added support.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures rose on Monday on strong exports, although there were concerns that demand may slow as the global economic outlook gets clouded by Europe's debt crisis and prospects of another U.S. recession.

Still-high stocks in top palm oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia have also weighed on the market in recent months, with prices down about a fifth since the start of the year.

The benchmark November contract KPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange settled up 0.6 percent to 3,022 ringgit($1,013.58) per tonne. It rebounded from a one-week low of 2,990 ringgit struck on Friday.

Overall traded volumes stood at 11,913 lots of 25 tonnes each, less than half the usual 25,000 lots.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Major Southeast Asian stock markets posted small losses on Monday, minimised by late bargain hunting in retail stocks that offset woes over a festering debt crisis in Europe and a grim economic outlook for the United States.

Most regional sharemarkets recouped early losses after late buying in beaten-down consumer stocks, but signs that the U.S. economy could slide back into recession raised fears of a steep global slowdown and potential its impact on local growth and earnings.

Singapore stocks .FTSTI ended nearly flat, picking up after slumping 1.9 percent fall at one point to its lowest since May 27. Stocks in Indonesia .JKSE, Thailand .SETI and Malaysia .KLSE rebounded from day lows to the lowest in more than one week.

Some brokers were reviewing year-end targets of indexes in the region, taking into account lower optimism on regional growth.

Singapore cellphone company Singapore Telecommunications STEL.SI gained 1.4 percent, reversing an early fall, while United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI fell 1.8 percent and DBS Group Holdings DBSM.SI eased 1.1 percent.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street ended a fourth week of losses on a down note on Friday as most buyers left the market before the weekend on growing fears of another U.S. recession and destabilization in Europe's financial system.

Investors already reeling from big losses in growth stocks were thumped by a dismal outlook from Hewlett-Packard, which dropped nearly 20 percent, its worst day since the stock-market crash of 1987.

It was the latest discouraging event in a month full of bad surprises ranging from the U.S. credit rating downgrade to a sharp slowdown in world growth. The S&P has lost 13.1 percent so far this month -- on track for its worst month since October 2008.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 172.93 points, or 1.57 percent, to end at 10,817.65. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX dropped 17.12 points, or 1.50 percent, to 1,123.53. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC slid 38.59 points, or 1.62 percent, to close at 2,341.84.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower on Friday after a late-session reversal to negative territory on continuing worries about the economy, after a series of negative data on Thursday.

Prices also fell as investors took some pre-weekend profits or squared books ahead of the front-month contract's expiration on Monday.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for September delivery CLU1 settled at $82.26 a barrel, dipping 12 cents, or 0.15 percent, after trading between $79.17 to $83.55.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher on short-covering ahead of the weekend and worries that much-needed rains expected in the U.S. Midwest might fall short, traders said.Weak U.S. dollar .DXY adds support.

Rally limited by fears the U.S. economy may slip back into a recession and mounting worries about the global banking system.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures eased to a one-week low on Friday, as uncertainty clouding the global economic outlook offset expectations of improving demand for the vegetable oil.

The benchmark November contract KPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended down 0.8 percent at 3,003 Malaysian ringgit ($1,005) per tonne. It earlier hit a low of 2,990 ringgit, the lowest since Aug. 11. Prices were down 0.4 percent for the week.

Traded volumes for the contract were at 9,358 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to 11,513 lots on Thursday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets tumbled on Friday, with index heavyweights coming under selling pressure as investors shifted money out of riskier assets because of worries over slowing global growth.

Indonesia .JKSE suffered its biggest fall in two weeks, tumbling 4.4 percent, with banks in particular hit. Singapore .FTSTI had its largest loss in almost two weeks at 3.2 percent.

Stocks in Malaysia .KLSE and Thailand .SETI ended the day with smaller drops of less than 2 percent. Philippine shares .PSI and Vietnam .VNI fell 1.45 percent and 0.5 percent respectively.

The selling intensifed late in the session after European shares .FTSE extended the previous session's sharp sell-off and U.S. stock index futures pointed to a sharply lower start on Wall Street.

Singapore fell for a third week, losing 4.1 percent, the worst in the region. Indonesia posted a weekly loss of 1.2 percent, with Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines posting more limited falls.

In Singapore, rig builder Keppel Corp KPLM.SI lost 4.9 percent and rival Sembcorp Marine SCMN.SI retreated 8.8 percent on concern that weaker oil prices could adversely affect demand for rigs.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Rising fears of another recession hammered U.S. stocks on Thursday, sending major averages sharply lower in a return to the extreme fluctuations investors endured a week ago.

New worries about the health of European banks set the tone before the market's open, and a dismal report on regional U.S. manufacturing fueled a downward spiral in which the Dow dropped as much as 528 points, spurring a flight to safe-haven assets like gold.

The Nasdaq ended more than 5 percent lower, the S&P 500 more than 4 percent and the blue-chip Dow off more than 3 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 419.63 points, or 3.68 percent, to 10,990.58, while the Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX declined 53.24 points, or 4.46 percent, to 1,140.65, and the Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC dropped 131.05 points, or 5.22 percent, to 2,380.43.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell nearly 6 percent on Thursday as a fresh batch of weak economic data from the United States hit investor confidence already worried about global economic growth and Europe's debt problems.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, September crude CLU1 fell $5.20, or 5.94 percent, to settle at $82.38 a barrel. The intraday intraday high was $87.53 and the low, reached in post-settlement trade was $81.15.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade fell on concerns about a slowdown in the global economy that fueled a rally in the U.S. dollar, traders said.

A sharp drop in crude oil added pressure, with spot NYMEX crude futures CLc1 sagging more than $5 a barrel, or nearly 6 percent.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures ended little changed on Thursday as expectations of higher demand and lower output were offset by lingering worries about global economic growth.

The benchmark November contract KPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended 0.2 percent lower at 3,026 Malaysian ringgit ($1,016) per tonne. It earlier hit a high of 3,043 ringgit, to hover near two week highs.

Traded volumes for the contract were 11,513 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to 11,344 lots on Wednesday, which was a national holiday in Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Some Southeast Asian stock markets gained on Thursday as optimism about regional growth bolstered demand for consumer and bank stocks but a bearish outlook in the technology sector, after Dell's disappointing outlook, hurt related sectors.

Investors appeared to favour relatively less export-dependent markets with strong domestic consumption such as Indonesia .JKSE, but concern about the U.S. and European slowdown lingered, triggering late selling in some markets.

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have pulled out of "oversold" zones, with the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of each pushing back into a neutral area of 38.4, 53.49, 49.98 and 51.73 respectively.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Shares on Wall Street rose with oil prices on Monday as acquisition news and stronger-than-expected economic data in Japan led markets to steadily forge ahead after last week's wild swings.

News that Google Inc GOOG.O offered to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc MMI.N for about $12.5 billion in cash fueled a rebound in U.S. stocks for a third straight session.

Wall Street's Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed up 213.88 points, or 1.90 percent, at 11,482.90. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 25.68 points, or 2.18 percent, at 1,204.49. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 47.22 points, or 1.88 percent, at 2,555.20.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures rebounded on Monday as Wall Street rose on hopes that Europe's debt crisis could be resolved and news that Google Inc GOOG.O offered to buy Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. MMI.N.

The dollar fell against the euro, whetting up appetite for riskier assets.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for September delivery CLU1 settled at $87.88 a barrel, rising $2.50, or 2.93 percent, after trading between $84.40 to $88.05, the highest since Aug. 5's intraday high of $88.32.

CBOT-SOYBEANS-Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed higher in a follow-through recovery bounce in equities and spillover support from the release last week of bullish U.S. soybean production data from the USDA.

Dry weather in portions of the U.S. Midwest including parts of top producers Iowa and Illinois also lent support to the soybean market.

FCPO-JAKARTA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil climbed for a fourth straight session on Monday, boosted by strong export data and as financial market jitters eased slightly after last week's volatility.

The benchmark October contract KPOc3 on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended up 1.8 percent at 3,070 Malaysian ringgit ($1,023) per tonne. Earlier, prices touched 3,083 ringgit, the highest level since Aug. 4.

Traded volumes for the contract were 9,786 lots of 25 tonnes each, compared to 9,934 lots on Friday.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-COLOMBO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Monday as investors bought shares that were sold heavily at times last week due to global recession fears, but trading was choppy ahead of a Franco-German summit on the European debt crisis.

Singapore and Malaysia were still trading near what some analysts reckon is oversold territory, while Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines were neutral, Thomson Reuters data showed.

Analysts said a positive close on Wall Street on Friday and bargain-hunting in thin volume helped the gains.
Malaysia .KLSE added 1.1 percent and the Philippines .PSI edged up 0.3 percent.

In Singapore, top bank DBS Group DBSM.SI gained 2.1 percent and Oversea Chinese Bank Corporation OCBC.SI added 1.3 percent.

Shares in casino operator Genting Singapore GENS.SI closed 3.2 percent weaker after it reported a double-digit fall in earnings for the second quarter