Chinese Markets Struggle For Upside On Positive Day

Most markets in Asia higher after taking a positive lead from the US, though moves are more subdued than markets in Europe and the US with a Japanese holiday sapping liquidity and impetus from markets while coronavirus concerns in the region still weigh. Markets in mainland China are hovering around neutral levels while the Hang Seng is higher, driven by the energy sector after the rally in crude yesterday. Markets in South Korea are higher, shrugging off another day of record COVID-19 case numbers. Markets in Australia are higher by over 1%, helped by the NAB business conditions confidence index rising to a record high. In the US futures are higher again, building on the S&P 500's biggest back to back gain in two months and taking the index to within touching distance of record highs.