Looking Through FOMC Minutes & Vaccines Headlines

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

• Nikkei 225 down 36.49 points at 30255.7
• ASX 200 up 0.677 points at 6885.9
• Shanghai Comp. up 27.094 points at 3682.538
• JGB 10-Yr future up 7 ticks at 151.30, JGB 10-Yr yield down 0.9bp at 0.09%
• Aussie 10-Yr future up 3.5 ticks at 98.6300, Aussie 10-Yr yield down 3.3bp at 1.369%
• U.S. 10-Yr future up 0-04+ ticks at 135-28+, U.S. 10-Yr yield up 0.5bp at 1.2753%
• WTI crude up $0.59 at $61.74, Gold up $6.28 at $1782.41
• USD/JPY up 2 pips at Y105.89
• FED MINUTES SHOW BULLISH TILT BUT NO TAPER MENTION (MNI)
• PFIZER: SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT COULD SIG. REDUCE VACCINE PROTECTION (RTRS)
• CHINA NOT TARGETING U.S. IN RARE-EARTH EXPORTS, OPTION REMAINS (GLOBAL TIMES)
• PBOC CONDUCTS NET DRAIN OF LIQUIDITY VIA OMOS AFTER LNY, ROLLS MATURING MLF
• GAMESTOP FRENZY PROMPTS SEC TO WEIGH MORE SHORT SALE TRANSPARENCY (WSJ)