A few points of note during the final..........>

ASIA: A few points of note during the final Asia-Pacific session of the week:

- China's Loan Prime Rate (LPR) fixing headlines, with scope for a lower fix on

the back of the RRR cut, although, as we have noted prev., this isn't a given.

- Elsewhere, focus will fall on Japan, with CPI data due after the BoJ noted

that it is paying "closer attention" to the risk of losing momentum towards its

2.0% inflation goal. 5-25+ Year BoJ Rinban ops will also be conducted.

- On the Sino-U.S. trade front it is worth recapping some developments from NY

hours. WH advisor Pilsbury told the SCMP that Trump had been "remarkably

restrained in the pressure he has brought to bear on China in the trade field.

Stressing that "the tariffs can be raised higher. These are low level tariffs

that could go to 50% or 100%,", adding that Trump's critics were wrong to assume

the president was "just bluffing" when he threatened an all-out trade war.

"There are other options involving the financial markets, Wall Street," he said.

- Also, CNBC highlighted that after the jnr ministerial level talks wrap up this

week a small group of Chinese off'ls are planning "a trip to farm country to

meet face to face with the producers whose finances have been deteriorating."