Asian stock indices were mainly higher on....>

STOCKS: Asian stock indices were mainly higher on Wednesday, although Chinese

indices lagged as spill over from Wall St. & the stable US yield environment

encouraged Asian investors ahead of Fed Chair Powell's testimony in front of the

US Congress on Tuesday.

- The Nikkei 225 was 1.2% higher as the USDJPY cross printed either side of

107.00 in a tight range. Electronics names and automakers led the way while

service sector names weighed.

- The Hang Seng was 0.1% higher as HK closed for lunch, with consumer

discretionary names leading the way as Telecoms & consumer staples lagged.

- China's CSI 300 was 1.1% lower as large cap names struggled and the PBoC

refrained from conducting OMO's on Tuesday.

- The ASX 200 was 0.5% higher as the healthcare sector outperformed and large

mining names rallied, while telecoms names struggled.

- US index futures were more cautious with the e-mini S&P 4 points lower and the

mini Dow 1 point lower.