Chinese COVID Cases Continue To Move Higher, Potential PBoC Easing Eyed

Below gives key levels of markets in the second half of the Asia-Pac session:

• Nikkei 225 down 83.84 points at 28299.25
• ASX 200 up 17.749 points at 7259.5
• Shanghai Comp. up 12.875 points at 3102.049
• JGB 10-Yr future down 40 ticks at 148.98, yield up 0.7bp at 0.255%
• Aussie 10-Yr future down 3.0 ticks at 96.425, yield up 3bp at 3.574%
• U.S. 10-Yr future up 0-12+ at 113-11, yield down 4.24bp at 3.6503%
• WTI crude up $0.59 at $78.53, Gold up $3.08 at $1758.33
• USD/JPY up 8 pips at Y138.63
• POPULIST POWER GAMES THREATEN FRAGILE MELONI COALITION IN ITALY (BBG)
• CHINA’S DAILY COVID TALLY TOPS 30,000 AS CURBS QUIETLY SPREAD (BBG)
• BEIJING STREETS EMPTY, FOOD DELIVERY STRAINS AMID COVID SURGE (BBG)
• OVER 20,000 NEW HIRES HAVE LEFT APPLE SUPPLIER FOXCONN'S MAJOR CHINA PLANT (RTRS SOURCE)
• BANK OF KOREA’S RHEE WANTS INFLATION FIRMLY CURBED BEFORE PIVOT (BBG)
• HEDGE FUND ROKOS WARNS THAT STERLING IS ‘VULNERABLE’ TO FURTHER FALLS (FT)