The major regional equity indices were bid...>

STOCKS: The major regional equity indices were bid in Asia-Pac hours, drawing

support from a nudge higher in crude prices, with Tokyo closed for a market

holiday, limiting broader activity/volume.

- U.S. earnings season grinds on after Alphabet's quarterly revenues topped

expectations, while regional results saw Samsung Electronics, somewhat

predictably, deliver a warning re: Q2 on the back of the COVID-19 outbreak.

- Highlights of Wednesday's U.S. earnings slate include: Boeing, American Tower,

Facebook, Microsoft, Qualcomm & Mastercard

- Also worth flagging that DJIA heavyweight Boeing is "working with investment

banks on a multibillion-dollar bond-fueled financing package, aiming to shore up

its balance sheet amid a sharp travel downturn from the pandemic," per RTRS

sources. The same report also noted that "Boeing has also considered applying to

the U.S. Treasury Department for aid under a $17 billion program for companies

that are critical to national security"

- Hang Seng +0.2%, CSI 300 +0.4%, ASX 200 +1.0%.

- S&P 500 futures +30, DJIA futures +203, NASDAQ 100 futures +110.