Regional equities initially followed.......>

EQUITIES: Regional equities initially followed another positive lead from Wall

St., with focus on a run of generally stronger than expected U.S. economic data

and continued central bank support, which allowed participants to look through

COVID-19 worry, Sino-U.S. tension and the imposition of the Hong Kong Security

Law. Q220 saw the S&P 500 log its strongest quarterly performance in a little

over 2 decades, although the index is still down YtD.

- The major local data points were a little mixed in Asia-Pac hours; stronger

than expected headline Chinese Caixin manufacturing PMI data provided a helping

hand for risk assets, although much like its official counterpart, the breakdown

of the reading proved to be less inspiring. Elsewhere, Japan's Tankan survey was

on the softer side, which, when coupled with USD/JPY's dip back below Y108.00,

resulted in underperformance for the Nikkei 225.

- A reminder that regional liquidity was thinned out by a holiday in Hong Kong.

- Nikkei 225 -%, Hang Seng closed, CSI 300 +%, ASX 200 +%.

- S&P 500 futures -0.2%, DJIA futures +1.5%, NASDAQ 100 futures +0.6%.