Equities/futures have weakened in..........>

EQUITIES: Equities/futures have weakened in European trading after broadly

treading water in the Asia-Pac session.

- Asian equities closed stronger, with Japan's NIKKEI up 293.1 pts or +1.33% at

22288.14 and the TOPIX up 9.55 pts or +0.62% at 1558.77. China's SHANGHAI closed

up 23.158 pts or +0.78% at 2984.674 and the HANG SENG ended 125.91 pts higher or

+0.52% at 24427.19.

- European equities are a little lower, with the German Dax down 19.33 pts or

-0.16% at 12236.19, FTSE 100 down 61.2 pts or -0.98% at 6169.49, CAC 40 down

25.68 pts or -0.52% at 4926.74 and Euro Stoxx 50 down 11.8 pts or -0.37% at

3224.33.

- U.S. futures are likewise weaker, Dow Jones mini down 160 pts or -0.63% at

25368, S&P 500 mini down 14 pts or -0.46% at 3036.75, NASDAQ mini down 13.25 pts

or -0.13% at 9967.25.