Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Global stocks wavered and oil prices sank on Friday after a worse-than-expected reading of U.S. consumer sentiment pricked optimism over upbeat earnings from Oracle, while gold prices hit a third high for the week.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> closed up 13.02 points, or 0.12 percent, at 10,607.85. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 0.93 point, or 0.08 percent, to 1,125.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 12.36 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,315.61.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures ended lower for a fourth day on Friday, posting the biggest weekly percentage loss in five weeks, as downbeat consumer sentiment shown in a poll stoked fresh concerns about oil demand.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for October delivery settled down 91 cents, or 1.22 percent, at $73.66 a barrel, after trading from $72.75 to $75.25.

CBOT- CHICAGO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Friday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November up 32-3/4 cents at $10.69 per bushel. Climbed to highest spot soy price in a month on continuous price charts, buoyed by strength in corn and technical buying. Worries about dryness in northern Brazil, frost in Canada's Alberta canola region and forecasts for frost in northeast China add support. Drier weather in the U.S. south and in the Delta will favor harvest activity and also buoy prospects for winter wheat seeding.

CBOT -SOYOIL - October up 0.55 cent at 41.91 cents per lb. Following soybeans higher.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures gained 1.2 percent on Friday after touching a near two-week low earlier in the day as a surge in corn prices spread to other agriculture commodities.

The benchmark December crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange rose 31 ringgit to settle at 2,627 ringgit ($843.1) per tonne after falling to 2,598 ringgit -- a level unseen since Sept. 6.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Indonesian stocks hit an all-time high on Friday on strong blue chips and commodity shares, while the rest of Southeat Asia ended mixed after a strong week marked by brisk foreign buying.

Singapore <.FTSTI> fell 0.4 percent but still hovered near a two-year high. Malaysia <.KLSE> edged 0.13 percent lower but at one point touched its highest in 2-½ years. Thailand <.SETI> lost 0.13 percent and the Phillippines <.PSI> shed 0.7 percent after an early rise to a record high.

Trader's Highlight

DJI-NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks were little changed on Thursday as mixed economic data and a cautious forecast from economic bellwether FedEx kept the market locked in its recent tight trading range.

A drop in initial jobless benefit claims to a two-month low in the most recent week was not enough to lift stocks, while a gauge of business activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region showed a contraction for a second straight month in September.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 22.10 points, or 0.21 percent, to 10,594.83. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 0.40 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,124.67. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> gained 1.93 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,303.25.

NYMEX-NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. crude futures fell a third straight session on Thursday, dropping nearly 2 percent as expectations a key Canada-to-U.S. crude oil pipeline will restart soon and mixed economic data weighed on investor sentiment.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, October crude fell $1.45, or 1.91 percent, to settle at $74.57 a barrel, trading from $74.11 to $75.99.

CBOT- CHICAGO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade grain and soy complex close on Thursday.

CBOT-SOYBEANS - November down 6-1/4 cents per bushel at $10.36-1/4 per bushel. Profit-taking after recent gains weigh on market. USDA on Thursday said export sales of U.S. soy last week 668,600 tonnes, near the low end of estimates for 650,000 to 850,000 tonnes. Private exporters reported the sale of 170,500 tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China for 2010/11 delivery - USDA.

CBOT -SOYOIL - October down 0.25 cent per lb at 41.36 cents per lb. Following soybeans and lower crude oil. USDA on Thursday said export sales of U.S. soyoil last week 132,100 tonnes, above estimates for 80,000 to 120,000 tonnes.

FCPO-KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Malaysian crude palm oil futures hit one-week lows on Wednesday, after data showing a strong buildup in stocks prompted a sell-off.

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board said inventories in the world's No. 2 producer jumped 22.6 percent in August to their highest level in six months as a strong recovery in output outpaced weak overseas demand.

The benchmark November crude palm oil contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange fell 1.1 percent, or 28 ringgit, to close at 2,615 ringgit ($842.4) per tonne after touching its lowest since Sept. 6 of 2,605 ringgit.

REGIONAL EQUITIES-BANGKOK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets were mixed on Thursday, but inflows pushed the Philippines to a record high and Thai stocks recovered some ground after recent jitters over possible measures to hold down the baht.

Singapore <.FTSI> inched down 0.13 percent but was still close to a two-year high. Vietnam <.VNI> gained 0.18 percent, reversing a small loss the previous day. Malaysia <.KLSE>, which is at a 2-1/2-year high, was shut for a market holiday.

In Singapore, banks fell. Singapore's best-ever economic expansion in the first half and reduced bad loan charges have boosted bank earnings this year, but rock-bottom interest rates are keeping margins under pressure.