Regional stock indices traded higher,........>

STOCKS: Regional stock indices traded higher, shaking off the losses seen on

Wall St.

- Japanese equities benefitted from a softer JPY as exporters led the way

higher, while financials were the biggest drag on the Nikkei 225. The index last

traded 0.75% higher as the afternoon session got underway.

- Hong Kong's Hang Seng moved higher as mainland China observed the final day of

the LNY period, although volumes were still below the norm. The index last

trades 0.9% higher with energy stocks leading the charge, while the consumer

discretionary sector is the only session in the red.

- The ASX 200 managed to post marginal gains as consumer staples & real estate

names overturned the continued pressure experienced by some of the mining

heavyweights.

- US futures also managed to post modest gains, with the mini S&P up 2 and the

mini Dow 12 points higher.