Stocks in Asia-Pac are in the red on.........>

STOCKS: Stocks in Asia-Pac are in the red on Wednesday, taking a negative lead

from US stocks. In Japan the Nikkei 225 is down around 365 points at 22256. The

index gapped lower at the open and continued to lose ground throughout the

session. All 11 sectors in the red, led lower by Consumer Discretionary and

Materials. Financials are also weighing on the index as markets focus on lower

yields and the implications of the US tax bill. Indices in Japan are also

weighed on by a stronger yen; USD/JPY is 37 pips lower at 112.23, sources note

that a European bank in Tokyo were the predominant seller pushing the rate down.

- In Australia the ASX200 is down 26 points at 5945, the index dropped sharply

at the open to session lows, staged a brief recovery on some dip buying after

weak GDP lowered chances of an RBA hike, before trending lower again into the

close. Materials and Energy are the worst performing sectors, the energy/metals

complex is broadly lower with copper in particular down 4.15% at a 2 year low

amid concerns of over supply/reduced Chinese demand.

- In China the Shanghai Comp is down 20 points at 3283, the Hang Seng is down

366 points at 28745.