Stocks in Asia-Pac are in positive...........>

STOCKS: Stocks in Asia-Pac are in positive territory on Thursday. Stocks took a

positive lead from gains in US equity markets as earnings season progresses and

companies express optimism over tax reform. 

- In Japan the Nikkei 225 is 110 points higher at 23,978, gapping higher at the

open as the index got a boost from a weaker yen, USD/JPY rose around 50 pips on

Wednesday as the yen underperformed a weaker dollar. However the gain was pared

on a bout of profit taking after Japanese stocks were sold after the Topix rose

above 1,900. 7/11 sectors are in the green, led higher by the IT sector after

decent gains in the Nasdaq and a bounce in Bitcoin.

- In Australia the ASX200 is up 10 points at 6,025. A strong lead from the US is

being eroded by a weakness in the Energy sector after weaker than expected

earnings from Woodside and Whitehaven Coal.

- In China the Shanghai Comp is up 17 points at 3,462. The Hang Seng is up 120

points at 32,106. In China focus will be on the data dump at 0700GMT (GDP,

Retail Sales, Industrial Production). Median consensus is for GDP growth of

6.8%, China's Premier Li said last week he exepected 6.9% growth.