RBA Sticks With Taper, but Elongates Minimum Life Of Initial Step Down

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

• Nikkei 225 up 261.9 points at 29931.45
• ASX 200 down 3.093 points at 7525.2
• Shanghai Comp. up 27.792 points at 3649.651
• JGB 10-Yr future up 10 ticks at 151.98, yield down 1.6bp at 0.035%
• Aussie 10-Yr future up 0.5 tick at 98.765, yield down 0.3bp at 1.255%
• U.S. 10-Yr future -0-04+ at 133-08, yield up 1.7bp at 1.339%
• WTI crude down $0.17 at $69.12, Gold down $1.97 at $1820.96
• USD/JPY down 5 pips at Y109.82
• UK PM JOHNSON TO UNVEIL GBP10BN A YEAR TAX RISE TO FUND NHS AND SOCIAL CARE (FT)
• RBA STICKS WITH TAPERING, EXTENDS GUARANTEED LIFE OF A$4BN/WEEK PURCHASES
• JAPAN'S ISHIBA BALKS AT RUNNING IN PARTY RACE, IN BOON FOR KONO (NIKKEI)
• CHINA POSTS WIDER THAN EXPECTED TRADE SURPLUS IN AUG