[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks are mostly as sentiment soured amid higher oil prices

APAC Stocks: Negative

• Asia-Pac stocks trade mostly negative despite the positive handover from Wall St, with headwinds seen amid higher oil prices and following the recent bout of mixed geopolitical headlines.

ASX 200: -0.7%

• Declined with the downside led by weakness in the consumer-related sectors and with nearly all industries subdued aside from energy, while the improvement in PMI data, which returned to expansionary territory, did little to spur a rebound.

Nikkei 225: -1.1%

• Swung between gains and losses with the index retreating after hitting a fresh record high above the 60,000 level, with pressure seen amid fluctuations in oil.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -1.0% / Shanghai Comp -0.6%

• Chinese markets are lower amid a slew of earnings updates and as the weakness seen in retailers and autos clouded over the gains in the energy majors.

US Equity Futures: Lower

• US equity futures pulled back overnight with sentiment pressured by higher oil prices.

European Equity Futures -1.2%

• Indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 1.2% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.4% on Wednesday.