Modest divergence crept into the major.......>

STOCKS: Modest divergence crept into the major Asia-Pacific equity indices

Tuesday, with the CSI 300 finishing the morning session 0.3% higher after RTRS

headlines noted that U.S. Tsy Sec Mnuchin & Trade Rep spoke on the phone with

Chinese VP Liu & "exchanged views on pushing forward timetable & roadmap for

next stage of trade talks." Elsewhere, the ASX 200 trades marginally higher,

back from best levels, with the utilities sector weighing.

- The Hang Seng trades ~0.1% lower, while the Nikkei sits 0.4% worse off, with a

lower USD/JPY adding pressure to Japanese stocks.

- U.S. index futures briefly pared losses on the back of the U.S.-China phone

call headlines, but sagged again shortly after, with e-mini S&P 500 futures 10

points lower at writing.