Stocks in Asia are mostly lower, slight......>

STOCKS: Stocks in Asia are mostly lower, slight losses in the morning session

are accelerated after the news that Democrat Doug Jones wins the Alabama Senate

vote which sparks some risk off trade. The Nikkei 225 is down 115 points at

22751, after opening flat the index gradually trended lower through the morning

session and fell off a cliff at the start of the afternoon session post Alabama

Senate news. 5/11 sectors are in the red on the Nikkei, the biggest losers are

IT and Materials sectors as investors take profit on IT companies and the metals

complex weakens.

- In Australia the ASX200 is around 7.5 points lower at 6005, the index

initially opened higher and was up around 15 points before dropping as the

session wore on. 8/11 sectors are in the red, Utilities and Consumer

Discretionary sectors are the biggest losers along with Energy stocks as oil

remains lower.

- Mainland China is lower but in Hong Kong the Hang Seng is up around 69 points

at 28862. The Hang Seng is recovering from its worst day in a week yesterday and

is being led higher gains in Unicom after a positive report from Jefferies.