*** Below gives key levels of markets at...>

SNAPSHOT: *** Below gives key levels of markets at the start of the Asia-Pac

session:

- Nikkei 225 down 640.25 points at 21247.18

- ASX 200 down 86.199 points at 5804.3

- JGB 10-Yr future up 9 ticks at 150.5, JGB 10-Yr yield down 0.6bp at 0.075%

- Aussie 3-Yr future up 5 ticks at 97.87, yield down 5.1bp at 2.079%

- Aussie 10-Yr future up 1.5 ticks at 97.13, yield down 1.7bp at 2.872%

- US 10-Yr future up 2+ ticks at 120.31, US 10-Yr yield up 1.27bp at 2.8367%

- WTI crude down $0.61 at $60.54, Gold up $1.52 at $1320.19

- USDJPY up 8 pips at 108.83

* RBA SOMP: DOWNSIDE RISKS BUT RBA LIKELY TO HOLD FOR LONGER

* AUSTRALIA HOME LOANS MoM DEC: -2.30% (EST -1.00%; REV PREV 1.60%)

* JAPAN ECONMIN MOTEGI: ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS STRONG IN JAPAN AND U.S.

* US SPENDING BILL DELAYED; SHUTDOWN DRAWS CLOSER