Stocks/futures have turned sharply lower...>

EQUITIES: Stocks/futures have turned sharply lower on no particular news,

erasing earlier gains in Europe and the U.S.

- Asian stocks closed mixed, with Japan's NIKKEI up 33.92 pts or +0.15% at

23124.95 and the TOPIX down 3.72 pts or -0.23% at 1624.71. China's SHANGHAI

closed down 12.36 pts or -0.42% at 2943.752 and the HANG SENG ended 7.49 pts

lower or -0.03% at 25049.73.

- European stocks are off, with the German Dax down 42.71 pts or -0.34% at

12557.28, FTSE 100 down 16.24 pts or -0.26% at 6322.57, CAC 40 down 6.69 pts or

-0.13% at 5095.13 and Euro Stoxx 50 down 5.67 pts or -0.17% at 3310.28.

- U.S. futures are lower with the Dow Jones mini down 35 pts or -0.13% at 27202,

S&P 500 mini down 0.5 pts or -0.02% at 3202.25, NASDAQ mini up 32 pts or +0.32%

at 9979.