Asia-Pacific stocks moved higher, latching...>

STOCKS: Asia-Pacific stocks moved higher, latching on to the positive lead from

Wall St.

- The Nikkei 225 also benefitted from the softer JPY, adding 1.0%, as all of the

major sectors moved higher, with the consumer discretionary & real estate

sectors leading the way.

- The Hang Seng was more hesitant, adding 0.3%, capped by losses for industrials

and the energy sector. We also learnt that Chinese investors will eventually be

able to buy stocks with weighted-voting rights via the south-bond stock link

with Hong Kong, only days after China's exchanges barred such transactions,

following a visit from the HKEX chief to the mainland.

- China's CSI 300 added 0.9%, but is still struggling to advance in the wake of

last week's false break higher.

- Australia's ASX 200 added 0.7%, with the heavyweight materials sector leading

the way, while energy was the only sector to trade lower.

- U.S. index futures printed marginal gains.