Mixed

A mixed day for equity markets in the Asia-Pac region, there were reports that US forces conducted airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia groups blamed for drone attacks on American facilities in Iraq. Bourses in Japan have struggled and in minor negative territory. Japan's Covid-19 response czar Nishimura signalled that the central gov't stands ready to declare a fresh state of emergency amid a deteriorating virus situation in Tokyo. In Australia the ASX 200 is negative, again coronavirus concerns weigh after of Sydney's lockdown broadened to cover the entire Sydney area, with the length of the lockdown increased to 2 weeks. In China markets are just about in positive territory but have failed to make much ground. Futures in the US are higher.