Japanese stocks are in negative territory....>

STOCKS: Japanese stocks are in negative territory despite a weaker yen on

Friday, while stocks in China and Australia are in positive territory after

recovering from an earlier blip lower. 

- In Japan the Nikkei 225 is 269 points lower at 23,217, the index dropped

sharply as bonds caught a bid after the BoJ increased 5-10 Year JGB purchases

and conducted a fixed rate unlimited buying operation. The Topix is on track for

the worst week since November 2017. Tech companies are the biggest laggard on

the index, the sector down 2.02% after Apple reported earnings with lower than

expected iPhone sales and sales forecasts.

- In China the Shanghai Comp is down 6 points at 3,440, in Hong Kong the Hang

Seng is up 87 points at 32,727. China stocks are subject of some bargain hunting

after dropping this week.

- In Australia the ASX200 is up 27 points at 6,117.50.

- In the US some pre-NFP jitters see US futures sink, yields in the US continue

to rise, the 10-Year yield up 0.2bp at 2.792%.