The overnight risk-off tone has............>

EQUITIES: The overnight risk-off tone has continued Friday, ahead of U.S. Pres

Trump's expected press conference on China. Asian stocks closesad mainly lower,

Japan's NIKKEI down 38.42 pts or -0.18% at 21877.89 and the TOPIX down 13.67 pts

or -0.87% at 1563.67. China's SHANGHAI closed up 6.129 pts or +0.22% at 2852.351

and the HANG SENG ended 171.29 pts lower or -0.74% at 22961.47.

- European stocks are down sharply, with the German Dax down 187.11 pts or

-1.59% at 11603.14, FTSE 100 down 64.21 pts or -1.03% at 6150.06, CAC 40 down

57.98 pts or -1.22% at 4706.54 and Euro Stoxx 50 down 38.93 pts or -1.26% at

3057.62.

- U.S. equities remain under pressure too, with the Dow Jones mini down 178 pts

or -0.7% at 25312, S&P 500 mini down 18.25 pts or -0.6% at 3023.5, NASDAQ mini

down 53.75 pts or -0.57% at 9416.75.