[MARKET ANALYSIS] Asia-Pac stocks are ultimately mixed but have gradually improved amid tech reprieve

APAC Stocks: Mixed Asia-Pac stocks are ultimately mixed but have shown a gradual improvement as the region claws back some of the recent tech-related losses, while participants also digest key releases from China, including the latest inflation and trade figures. ASX 200: -0.7% Declined with the index dragged lower by underperformance in the top-weighted financials sector, while sentiment amongst miners was not helped by the indecision in Rio Tinto following its quarterly production update. Nikkei 225: +0.7% Climbed back above the 68,000 level as tech stocks got some reprieve from recent selling. KOSPI +2.1% Leads against its regional peers as tech rebounds from the recent underperformance. Hang Seng & Shanghai Comp: Hang Seng Flat / Shanghai Comp +0.2% Chinese markets are kept afloat but with the upside limited as participants digest a slew of data, including stronger-than-expected trade figures and mixed inflation numbers in which CPI printed softer-than-expected, while PPI was hot and showed a faster-than-anticipated acceleration in factory gate prices. US Equity Futures: Mildly positive Rebounded alongside the mostly improved sentiment in Asia, although gains are capped with US inflation data on the horizon. European Equity Futures +0.3% Indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.3% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.6% on Tuesday.