U.S. equity index futures and the major......>

STOCKS: U.S. equity index futures and the major regional equity markets were

well bid in Asia-Pac hours, on the back of hopes surrounding medical treatment

for COVID-19 (although this is heavily caveated in a story that has been well

documented in the last few hours), with global equities advancing since the Wall

St. closing bell rang. That being said, the aforementioned metrics are off of

their best levels, likely on the back of the caveated nature of the story &

chequered Chinese economic data, headlined by the first negative Chinese GDP

reading on record.

- Elsewhere, risk was also supported by a CNBC story noting that "Boeing is

planning to resume commercial aircraft production at its Seattle-area factories

as early as April 20 with new physical-distancing measures aimed at preventing

the spread of COVID-19."

- Nikkei 225 +2.2%, Hang Seng +2.2%, CSI 300 +1.2%, ASX 200 +1.7%.

- S&P 500 futures +85, DJIA futures +814, NASDAQ 100 futures +171.