Regional equity markets followed on from.....>

STOCKS: Regional equity markets followed on from Wall St.'s positive tone, with

some hope surrounding the potential for the "U.S. Commerce Department to extend

a reprieve given to Huawei that permits the Chinese firm to buy supplies from

U.S. companies so that it can service existing customers," per a RTRS sources

piece. That being said, U.S. President Trump's latest batch of comments on the

matter were a little more hard-line, although it is worth reminding that there

has been some distinction between the administration's own actions surrounding

the matter and what it permits at the corporate level. Trump had earlier tweeted

"We are doing very well with China, and talking!"

- The Hang Seng outperformed on continued "bargain hunting" after tumult

surrounding the trade war, local protests and cancelled IPOs plagued the index

in recent weeks.

- Nikkei 225 +0.5%, Hang Seng +1.8%, CSI 300 +0.6%, ASX 200 +0.9%.

- S&P 500 futures +15, DJIA futures +141, NASDAQ 100 futures +45.