Fedspeak & Covid Matters Under Scrutiny

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

• Nikkei 225 up 8.68 points at 27827.76
• ASX 200 up 10.984 points at 7549.4
• Shanghai Comp. down 4.895 points at 3489.74
• JGB 10-Yr future down 16 ticks at 152.15, yield up 1.1bp at 0.026%
• Aussie 10-Yr future up 0.5 ticks at 98.805, yield down 0.4bp at 1.201%
• U.S. 10-Yr future unch. at 133-25, yield down 1.01bp at 1.314%
• WTI crude up $0.48 at $66.96, Gold up $6.97 at $1736.89
• USD/JPY up 5 pips at Y110.34
• FED'S BOSTIC URGES FASTER BOND TAPER AS ECONOMY STRENGTHENS
• FED'S ROSENGREN SAYS CENTRAL BANK SHOULD BEGIN SLOWING STIMULUS EFFORTS BY FALL (AP)
• FED'S BARKIN: INFLATION LIKELY TO REMAIN AT FED'S 2% TARGET (RTRS)
• CHINA'S CENTRAL BANK OUTLOOK FUELS CALLS FOR POLICY EASING (BBG)