[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed following the US holiday lull and with the attention on data releases

APAC Stocks: Mixed

• Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed in the absence of a lead from Wall St and as attention turned to several data releases from the region, including Japanese GDP and Chinese trade data.

ASX 200: -0.7%

• Underperforms, with the sentiment not helped by a deterioration in the Westpac Consumer Sentiment and NAB Business Confidence surveys.

Nikkei 225: +0.1%

• Price action is choppy amid recent currency strength and as the latest data, including upward GDP revisions and hot Labour Cash Earnings, solidifies the case for a BoJ rate hike next week.

KOSPI +1.9%

• Outperforms on tech-related momentum and after South Korean GDP data matched the initial estimates.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -0.5% / Shanghai Comp +0.4%

• Chinese markets are mixed, with Hong Kong dragged lower by weakness in the local tech and biopharma stocks, while the mainland is kept afloat as participants digest the ultimately mixed Chinese trade data, in which Exports and Imports accelerated and continued to show strong double-digit percentage growth, but missed estimates.

US Equity Futures: Mixed

• US index futures are mixed following the holiday lull, but with the Emini Nasdaq 100 outperforming.

European Equity Futures +0.1%

• Indicate a marginally higher cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.1% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.2% on Monday.