Equities are rallying to begin U.S.........>

EQUITIES: Equities are rallying to begin U.S. earnings week, notably shrugging

off negative COVID headlines out of the U.S.

- Asian stocks closed higher, with Japan's NIKKEI up 493.93 pts or +2.22% at

22784.74 and the TOPIX up 37.82 pts or +2.46% at 1573.02. China's SHANGHAI

closed up 59.964 pts or +1.77% at 3443.286 and the HANG SENG ended 44.71 pts

higher or +0.17% at 25772.12.

- European equities are stronger, with the German Dax up 135.77 pts or +1.07% at

12771.03, FTSE 100 up 53.19 pts or +0.87% at 6148.61, CAC 40 up 29.84 pts or

+0.6% at 5000.32 and Euro Stoxx 50 up 28.81 pts or +0.87% at 3325.03.

- U.S. futures are higher, with the Dow Jones mini up 133 pts or +0.51% at

26114, S&P 500 mini up 12.25 pts or +0.39% at 3191, NASDAQ mini up 55 pts or

+0.51% at 10893.75.