Most of the major Asia-Pacific equity........>

STOCKS: Most of the major Asia-Pacific equity indices have followed their Wall

St. counterparts higher. This came as the leaders of South & North Korea met and

struck a generally upbeat tone re: relations going forwards.

- The Nikkei 225 has added 0.5% with the telecoms & IT sectors leading the way

higher, aided by solid US tech earnings, while the industrial sector has

presented the biggest drag to the space.

- The upbeat round of US tech earnings has also supported the Hang Seng, which

has added 0.1%, with the energy sector leading the way higher as consumer

staples dragged.

- Mainland China stocks continued to underperform as the CSI 300 shed 1.0%.

- Australia's ASX 200 added 0.3%, as utilities & health care led the way, while

the financial sector was the only major sector to trade lower.

- The e-mini S&P lost 5 points, as the Dow shed 50 points.