Overview: The record high close for the S&P 500 failed to lift global equities. Far East trading was mixed. The Nikkei opened strong and closed weaker, while the Shanghai Composite began softer and closed firmly. Australian shares and bonds rallied on the back of mild inflation, while the Australian dollar tumbled. Oil is easing for the first time in four sessions and this is weighing on benchmark 10-year yields which are one-two basis points lower. Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 has an eight-day rally on the line. It has only retreated in three sessions this