[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed with the region partially shrugging off the weak US lead following a fresh exchange of US-Iran strikes and escalation in the US-Canada trade war

APAC Stocks: Mixed

• Asia-Pac stocks trade mixed as the region partially shrugs off the weak lead from Wall St, where all major indices declined on return from the long weekend amid rising oil prices and ongoing geopolitical escalation.

ASX 200: -0.2%

• Index is subdued as gains in energy, resources, mining and materials are offset by weakness in healthcare, financials and the consumer-related sectors.

Nikkei 225: +0.4%

• Pared early losses in two-way trade with little fresh catalysts and further reports continue to point to a BoJ rate hike next week, while Nintendo is among the laggards after its Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct announcements underwhelmed.

KOSPI +1.4%

• Resumes its regional outperformance and climbed above the 7,000 level with Samsung underpinned following several recent announcements and with SK Hynix unfazed by reports that Kioxia's CEO dismissed prospects of closer ties with the South Korean chipmaker.

Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng -0.3% / Shanghai Comp +0.3%

• Chinese markets are mixed, with price action contained after the PBoC continued to refrain from open market operations and as participants digested the somewhat varied Chinese inflation data in which CPI matched estimates, but PPI was firmer-than-expected and showed an acceleration in factory gate prices.

US Equity Futures: Mixed

• Price action is mixed but contained within narrow ranges.

European Equity Futures -0.5%

• Indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.5% after the cash market closed with gains of 0.1% on Tuesday.