Hong Kong stocks have resumed trade on the...>

STOCKS: Hong Kong stocks have resumed trade on the back foot, following the

elongated holiday weekend, with the Hang Seng trading 1.5% lower last. The space

appears to be responding to rising China-US tensions in the South China Sea

coupled with negative comments from U.S. President Trump & some of his senior

admin officials over the short term prospect re: US-China trade discussions.

- Elsewhere the Nikkei 225 has shed 0.3%, as real estate and communication names

drag the index lower with JPY flows and the South China issue denting sentiment.

- The ASX 200 has shed 0.8% as health care names and financials lead the way

lower, with the big 4 banks continuing to hamper the broader index.

- The aforementioned South China Sea issue also weighed on U.S. index futures

which have recorded marginal losses at writing.