- Asian equities have broadly inched.......>

EQUITIES: - Asian equities have broadly inched higher, while the Hang Seng is

struggling for gains.

- The Nikkei is up 1.25% a day, while the Shanghai Composite is close to unch.

- India's Sensex and the Jakarta Composite Index have been regional

outperformers with the former posting gains of 1.4% and the latter up 2.6%.

- Reports over the weekend indicate that Russia and OPEC will extend oil

production cuts for a further month in a bid to stabilise the market. The

rebound in the oil market is further underpinning the recovery in risk sentiment

and supporting equities.

- Revised first quarter GDP data for Japan showed a marginally deeper

contraction than initially estimated (-0.5% Q/Q vs -0.4%).

- Looking ahead, the US FOMC decision this week is likely to keep equities well

supported on speculation of possible additional monetary easing following action

from the ECB last week.