The major regional equity markets have.......>

STOCKS: The major regional equity markets have struggled during Asia-Pacific

hours on the back of the expectation management programme employed by the Fed at

the back end of last week, which resulted in market pricing surrounding the

chances of a 50bp cut at next week's FOMC decision fading back to ~20%.

- China's new NASDAQ-style STAR market has caught the eye, as all 25 of the

board's constituents surged (some by as much as ~500%), and a degree of the fear

of missing out seemingly creeping in, sapping liquidity out of the more

established Chinese markets.

- U.S. equity index futures trade either side of neutral.

- U.S. earnings season will of course continue to garner interest.

- Nikkei 225 -0.3%, Hang Seng -0.8%, CSI 300 -0.3%, ASX 200 -0.2%.

- S&P 500 futures -1, DJIA futures +4, NASDAQ 100 futures -4.