The major Asia-Pac regional equity indices...>

STOCKS: The major Asia-Pac regional equity indices trade mixed. The Nikkei 225

trades 0.4% lower at writing, with a modestly lower USD/JPY and worries re: the

recent Japanese data scandal weighing on the benchmark.

- Elsewhere, China's CSI 300 added 0.5%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4%,

as the yuan rallied, although both metrics sit shy of best levels at writing.

The rally came in spite of a second consecutive negative print for Chinese

industrial profits, with more focus being placed on the upcoming Sino-U.S trade

talks, scheduled for this week.

- The ASX 200 was closed for a national holiday in Australia.

- U.S. index futures traded modestly lower, with U.S. President Trump suggesting

that the upcoming bi-partisan talks re: government funding only have a 50/50

chance of yielding a successful outcome over the next 3 weeks. Trump once again

reiterated that he is willing to shut the government down again and pointed to

the possibility of declaring a national emergency to get the Mexican border wall

built. Earnings season continues this week, with Apple the pick of the bunch,

due to report Tuesday. S&P 500 -6, DJIA -35, NASDAQ 100 -20.