Nikkei -0.6%, HK -0.2%, Kospi +0.4%. Gold steady at $1215/oz and oil has slipped back 0.5% but is trading above $70/bbl. The AUD/USD is mid-range at .8255 as is USD/JPY at 90.00. The EUR/USD is holding towards the upper end of a 60 pip session range, currently at 1.2210.