Risk Appetite Wanes After China-Australia Trade Announcement

Another mixed day for equity markets in the Asia-Pac region as Japan, mainland China and South Korea return from holidays. Markets in mainland China are lower, the move accelerating after China's National Development and Reform Commission announced an indefinite half of all activities under the China-Australia economic dialogue. Bourses in Japan are the outperformer with gains of over 2%, there were reports that Japan considered relaxing emergency restrictions on departments stores, though Tokyo could seek an extension of the virus emergency. In the US futures are lower, dropping into negative territory after the reports of Sino-Aussie trade tensions alongside a safe haven bid in the greenback.