The MSCI Asia-Pac index is on course for.....>

STOCKS: The MSCI Asia-Pac index is on course for its largest weekly gain since

'16, with warmer rhetoric between the U.S. & China supporting. BBG ran comments

from Trump as he noted that Chinese Pres Xi "wants to make a fair trade deal,"

but stressed that "we have to make the right deal," following on from the phone

call between the two Thurs.

- The ASX was the underperformer, losing 0.4% at writing, as the heavyweight

energy and financial sectors found themselves at the bottom of the pile.

- Nikkei 225 has added 0.7%, with utility & real estate names limiting gains.

- China-linked stocks benefitted from the warmer U.S.-China rhetoric. The Hang

Seng has added 2.4% at writing, while the CSI 300 added 1.9%. This comes after

A-Share inflows via the China-HK stock link hit record levels Thursday.

- U.S. index futures were initially pressured after the Wall St. bell, on

Apple's miss on iPhone sales, softer guidance than most were looking for and

removal of iPhone, iPad & Mac individual unit sales from futures earnings

releases. U.S. index futures did move higher alongside Asia-Pacific shares in

early Friday dealing, but now sit shy of best levels.