New COVID Variant Results In Risk-Off Trade

Below gives key levels of markets in the second half of the Asia-Pac session:

• Nikkei 225 down 799.43 points at 28699.63
• ASX 200 down 127.991 points at 7279.3
• Shanghai Comp. down 22.866 points at 3561.313
• JGB 10-Yr future up 16 ticks at 151.7, yield down 1.1bp at 0.075%
• Aussie 10-Yr future up 13.5 ticks at 98.25, yield down 13.2bp at 1.737%
• U.S. 10-Yr future +0-25 at 130-19+, yield down 8.77bp at 1.546%
• WTI crude down $2.41 at $75.98, Gold up $8.97 at $1797.82
• USD/JPY down 69 pips at Y114.67
• WHO CALLS SPECIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS NEW COVID VARIANT FOUND IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH 'A LARGE NUMBER OF MUTATIONS' (CNBC)
• BAILEY SIGNALS BOE HAS ABANDONED HARD GUIDANCE FOR RATES POLICY (BBG)
• FRENCH FISHERMEN WILL BLOCKADE CHANNEL TUNNEL IN BREXIT PROTEST
• CHINA SAID TO ASK DIDI TO DELIST FROM U.S. ON SECURITY FEARS (BBG)
• RBNZ'S HAWKESBY: INFLATION EXPECTATIONS WILL BE KEY TO RATE-HIKE PACE (BBG)