The major Asia-Pac equity benchmarks.......>

EQUITIES: The major Asia-Pac equity benchmarks moved higher on Thursday as focus

remained on the broader trend of U.S. economic data and positive developments on

the COVID-19 vaccine front, which hit on Wednesday, outweighing any sense of

virus-induced worry.

- The Hang Seng outperformed as Hong Kong returned from a one day holiday, with

a strong showing for Australia's ASX 200, as the latter saw the real estate and

IT sectors lead the way higher.

- Equity markets continue to look through the bubbling Sino-U.S. tensions, with

regional participants pointing to the release of the Fed minutes/preferences for

deeper forward guidance (of some sort) as a supportive factor, even as

disagreement re: YCC remains evident within the FOMC.

- Worth noting that McDonald's became the latest big U.S. corporate name to push

back its re-opening plans. U.S. equity index futures lacked conviction ahead of

NFPs and an elongated holiday weekend.

- Nikkei 225 +0.7%, Hang Seng +1.6%, CSI 300 +1.0%, ASX 200 +1.5%.

- S&P 500 futures +7, DJIA futures +77, NASDAQ 100 futures +29.