Regional stocks have struggled for the.......>

STOCKS: Regional stocks have struggled for the majority of today's session, with

the fall in crude & mixed Chinese data adding weight on the back of a negative

lead from Wall St. BBG source reports noting that the U.S. is set to hold off on

auto-tariffs for now also aided risk appetite early on, but there was little in

the way of follow through.

- Elsewhere Brexit optimism has been curtailed by familiar questions surrounding

a Brexit deal re: resistance from the UK opposition party, hard-line

Conservative Brexiteers & the DUP.

- The Nikkei 225 leant on the auto sector on the back of the aforementioned BBG

report, outperforming, adding 0.3% at writing.

- Elsewhere the CSI 300 & Hang Seng struggled, both losing 0.1% in the morning

session, perhaps struggling on the back of the soft Chinese lending metrics

released after market on Tuesday. The ASX 200 was the underperformer shedding

1.5% as the energy sector struggled following the latest leg lower in crude.

Materials and financials also found themselves near the bottom of the pile. U.S.

index futures are marginally higher at writing.