Geopolitics, China Data & COVID Fear Give Defensive Feel To Asia Trade

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

• Nikkei 225 down 474 points at 27502.7
• ASX 200 down 27.025 points at 7601.9
• Shanghai Comp. up 12.841 points at 3529.14
• JGB 10-Yr future up 15 ticks at 152.34, yield down 1.6bp at 0.015%
• Aussie 10-Yr future up 7.0 ticks at 98.860, yield down 7.3bp at 1.143%
• U.S. 10-Yr future +0-11+ at 134-10, yield down 2.34bp at 1.253%
• WTI crude down $0.77 at $67.67, Gold down $2.34 at $1777.43
• USD/JPY down 16 pips at Y109.43
• FED'S KASHKARI WANTS 'FEW MORE' STRONG JOB REPORTS BEFORE TAPER (BBG)
• CHINESE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY DATA DISAPPOINTS
• PBOC PARTIALLY ROLLS OVER MATURING MLF
• AUSTRALIAN LOCKDOWNS DEEPEN, LENGTHEN AND WIDEN
• TALIBAN RETAKE AFGHAN CAPITAL AFTER 20 YEARS FIGHTING U.S. (BBG)