Most Major Asia-Pac Equity Indices Struggle, Familiar Risks Weigh

The major regional equity indices were mostly lower on Thursday. The Nikkei 225 continued its pullback from the multi-decade highs registered earlier this week. Elsewhere, troubled developer China Evergrande suspended trading of all of its onshore bonds on Thursday, although dealing is set to resume tomorrow. Regulatory headwinds also continued to blight the sectors that Chinese policymakers have targeted in recent months. This allowed the Hang Seng to lead the way lower, shedding ~2% on the day. Australia's ASX 200 was the exception to the broader rule, with the energy sector providing the largest sectoral gain on the energy price dynamics witnessed over the last 24 hours. U.S. e-mini futures traded either side of unchanged during the overnight session, in what was relatively limited, directionless dealing.