A mixed session for regional equities,.....>

EQUITIES: A mixed session for regional equities, with the Hang Seng playing

catch up after a one day break, meaning the index underperformed its major

counterparts as participants assessed recent developments upon their return.

- China's absence sapped liquidity, with the mainland set to return on Monday.

- Elsewhere, regional indices were generally bid, after Thursday's Wall St.

rally on the back of the latest wind back of some of the restrictions placed on

banks under the Volcker rule.

- Also worth noting that late Thursday saw the Federal Reserve release its

stress test results, in which it revealed that it would require large banks to

stop buying back their own stock and cap dividend payments in the third quarter

as it called on them to "preserve capital" for as much as $700 billion in losses

as the COVID-19 pandemic and recession take hold.

- Nikkei 225 +1.1%, Hang Seng -0.5%, CSI 300 closed, ASX 200 +0.9%.

- S&P 500 futures +1, DJIA futures -54, NASDAQ 100 futures +3.