*** 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 12.63 points at 23128.92

- ASX 200 up 24.447 points at 6759.5

- JGB 10-Yr future up 17 ticks at 153.29, yield down 1.8bp at -0.085%

- Aussie 10-Yr future up 4 ticks at 98.86, yield down 3.8bp at 1.139%

- U.S. 10-Yr future -0-04 at 129-07, yield up 0.87bp at 1.827%

- WTI crude up $0.17 at $56.94, Gold down $1.76 at $1469.65

- USD/JPY up 6 pips at Y108.48

* U.S. AND CHINA TRADE TEAMS TO HOLD PRIMARY LEVEL PHONE CALL FRIDAY

* WHITE HOUSE'S KUDLOW: "WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO TRADE DEAL WITH CHINA" (RTRS)

* U.S. AND CHINA STRUGGLE TO FINALISE "PHASE ONE" TRADE DEAL (FT)

* TRUMP ASKS SUPREME COURT TO BLOCK NY SUBPOENA FOR TAX RETURNS (BBG)

* XI JINPING: RESTORING ORDER IS MOST URGENT TASK FOR HONG KONG (CCTV)

* ALIBABA OFFERS HONG KONG SHARES AT NO MORE THAN HK$188 EACH (BBG)