The Asian markets are flat in opening trades.
Hang Seng is quoting at 20,447, lower by 20 points or 0.1%, while Nikkei is at 9,580, higher by 32 points or 0.3%.
Straits Times is at 2,932, higher by six points or 0.2%, while Seoul Composite and Taiwan Weighted are virtually unchanged at 1,734 and 7638 respectively.