Asia-Pacific indices operate in mixed........>

STOCKS: Asia-Pacific indices operate in mixed territory.

- The Nikkei 225 added 0.5%, aided by the uptick in USD/JPY, with all but the

industrial sector moving higher, as the energy space led the advance.

- China's CSI shed 0.5%, with the U.S. adopting a dimmer view on the recent

trade talks between itself and China. The fact that earnings season has provided

lacklustre results thus far has also hampered the space.

- The Hang Seng shed 0.7% with investors worried as the USD/HKD cross tests the

upper limit of its trading band. The losses were relatively broad based, with

the energy sector providing the only point of notable outperformance.

- The ASX 200 added ~0.3%, after the index moved away from worst levels after

Scott Morrison assumed leadership of the ruling Liberal Party.

- U.S. index futures logged marginal gains.