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FELTON, Calif., June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ –The global Integrated Workplace Management System Market size is estimated to arrive at USD 7.85 billion by 2027. It is projected to develop by 12.8% CAGR from 2021 to 2027.What are Key Factors Driving the Integrated Workplace Management System Market?Increasing demand for the resolution, which can assist in making better the performance of the business, strengthen progress of the company, abridge workload, enhance customer service, and decrease running capital, is anticipated to impel the market growth.Moreover, the global business organizations are concentrating on decreasing the operational expenses and increase the efficiency of their administrative procedure. This is expected to propel the demand for integrated workplace management system, for the period of the forecast.Rising technologies, similar to the Internet of Things (IoT), are expected to offer important development opening to the market. Since, the data can be automatically composed and later on can be scrutinize for safeguarding reason, the implementation of IoT can considerably make things easier of the business process. The acceptance of IoT in the enterprises is capable of considerably reduce the stress on the workplace management tools and furthermore facilitate businesses to create superior decisions.

The integrated workplace management system software is also used for tracing the usage of utility as well as spending, such as the measurement of the efforts to decrease operating overheads. Moreover, the superior flexibility of a number of integrated workplace management system solutions and their ability to adjust to the altering and increasing requirements of the businesses are expected to steer the expansion of the integrated workplace management system (IWMS) market, for the period of the forecast.Please click here to get the sample pdf and find more details on “Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) Market” Report 2027.Further key findings from the report suggest:The regional market of Asia Pacific is expected to record a major expansion rate, during the period of the forecast. This can be accredited to the increasing acceptance of the different workplace management functions, on the cloud, within the region. It comprises employee management, project management, asset management, and floor space management, for superior management. The Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector is estimated to record considerable enlargement, during the forecast period, in terms of enterprise size. Due to the progression in SaaS tools, Small & Medium Enterprises are able to make use of reasonably priced software solutions and contend with bigger companies by equivalent efficiencies. This is estimated to power the demand for integrated workplace management system, in Small & Medium Enterprises. The managed services section is likely to show momentous enlargement, during the forecast period, in terms of service. This can be credited to the increasing reliance of the businesses on IT resources, to enhance their efficiency. The IT & Telecom sector is projected to record, sizeable expansion, all through the forecast period, in terms of end use. This can be credited to the increasing demand from IT & Telecom companies for re-assess operational policies and use sophisticated technologies through the business procedure, to retain a viable place. The cloud section is anticipated to record the major expansion, for the period of the forecast, in terms of deployment, due to the reality that cloud deployment facilitates consumers to get in touch with records, from several locations in a comfortable manner, abolishing the necessity to physically and frequently improve the solutions. Due to the increasing necessity for improvement and repairs of existing resolution for superior administration, the real estate & lease management section is expected to record momentous augmentation throughout the forecast period, in terms of the solution.Browse 120 page research report with TOC on “Global Integrated Workplace Management System Market” at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-integrated-workplace-management-system-iwms-marketMillion Insights segmented the global integrated workplace management system market based on End Use, Enterprise Size, Deployment, Service, Solution, and Region:

Integrated Workplace Management System Solution Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)Real Estate & Lease Management Facilities & Space Management Asset & Maintenance Management Project Management Environment ManagementIntegrated Workplace Management System Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)Professional Services Managed ServicesIntegrated Workplace Management System Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)On-premise CloudIntegrated Workplace Management System Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)Large Enterprises Small & Medium EnterprisesIntegrated Workplace Management System End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)Public Sector IT & Telecom Manufacturing BFSI Real Estate & Construction Retail Healthcare OtherIntegrated Workplace Management System Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 – 2027)North AmericaU.S. CanadaEuropeU.K. GermanyAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaCompaniesSAP SE Nemetschek Group (Space well) International Business Machines Corporation FM: Systems Accruent Trimble Inc. Plan on MRI Software LLC FSI (FM Solutions) Limited ARCHIBUS, Inc.Read the Latest Press Releases by Million Insights:Smart Electricity Meters Market- The global smart electricity meters market size is projected to account for USD 18.9 billion by 2027. It is likely that the market would register 7.8% CAGR over the forecast duration. The demand for energy security is gaining traction in the energy sector. Food Service Equipment Market- As per the published report, the global food service equipment market size is expected to arrive at USD 50.01 billion by 2028. It is estimated to develop by 5.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Healthcare IT Market- As per the published report, the global healthcare IT market size is estimated to arrive at USD 166.0 billion by 2028. It is projected to develop by a 10.7% CAGR in the period of forecast. Artificial Organ And Bionics Market- As per the published report, the global artificial organ and bionics market size is estimated to arrive at USD 53.9 billion by 2027. It is projected to develop by 9.6% CAGR in the period of forecast.About Million Insights:Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive marketplace, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive.Contact:Ryan ManuelResearch Support Specialist, USAMillion InsightsPhone: +1-408-610-2300Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085Email: sales@millioninsights.com   Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/   Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

KEY FINDINGS- 71% of 1,000 respondents to a landmark survey have said they now have a high level of confidence about receiving their gratuity payment when leaving their current employer (in the DIFC)- In the rest of the UAE, without the benefit of the DIFC’s reformed workplace savings scheme, awareness and confidence drops to 40%- Nearly half of expatriate employees either have no means of maintaining a decent standard of living in retirement, or plan to work beyond retirement age to derive sufficient incomeLONDON and DUBAI, June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — According to a survey on end-of-services benefits (EoSB) in the UAE commissioned by Zurich, Equiom and Mercer to Insight Discovery to gauge the perceptions of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) scheme, 71% of DIFC employees are highly confident of receiving their gratuity payment when leaving their current employer.

The confidence in the DEWS scheme is particularly notable when comparing the responses of employees in the DIFC with the responses of employees across the rest of the UAE, where only 40% of UAE respondents outside the DIFC said they were aware of how their gratuity works and what it means for them. Two-thirds were also confident that they knew how their gratuity worked, as well as what it meant for them financially. Additionally, around 30% of respondents across the UAE have either only a basic level of awareness about their gratuity, or are completely unaware of their gratuity. Moreover, 35% of UAE respondent employees were either “not very” or “not at all” confident about receiving their gratuity payment when the time came.The much higher level of confidence and understanding amongst DIFC employees, who have only been working with DEWS for the past year, shows “the significant trust generated – in such a short time – by the greater transparency, accessibility and personal control provided by DEWS,” said Nigel Sillitoe, CEO of Insight Discovery.Meanwhile, the survey also highlighted the savings gap between expatriate and other employees in the UAE. For example, 45% of expatriate employees either had no means of maintaining a decent standard of living in their retirement, or were planning to work beyond retirement age to derive sufficient income, while 61% of expats said they had no long-term savings at all.Claudia Maldonado, DC Solutions Leader at Mercer Middle East, explained that “the opinions of DIFC employees familiar with DEWS demonstrates the importance of the scheme in focusing individual employees on the need to save for their future, by offering flexible and attractive investment options able to meet the requirements of individual employees and their savings goals.” In addition, by facilitating a new approach to savings via the workplace, an increasing number of employees, “are also choosing to make additional voluntary contributions from their salaries into the DEWS plan,” she added.

Importantly, by offering a certain amount of protection for individuals in terms of gratuity, DEWS has set a new tone in helping employees take the first step in building comprehensive savings and retirement plans. The success of DEWS will also hopefully help more expats become aware of the need for planning, “to start to put in place relevant and suitable financial strategies to support them in retirement, triggered by the benefits of greater certainty in employee-related savings,” said Reena Vivek, SEO at Zurich Workplace Solutions. The outcome of the survey also suggests there is greater scope for DEWS to be used as a benchmark going forward.The considerable planning and, especially, the broad industry consultation that went into the development of this legislation and, ultimately, the detail of DEWS, “presents a viable, and now tried and tested blueprint, for the rest of the UAE – and possibly even the region – to build a culture of long-term financial planning supported by regulated solutions that effectively enable discipline and consistency,” commented Chris Cain, Client Services Director (Middle East) at Equiom. The survey on end-of-service benefit (EoSB) payments in different parts of the UAE was conducted in conjunction with the 11th edition of the Middle East Investment Panorama (MEIP).

About Insight DiscoveryInsight Discovery is a multiple award-winning consultancy that specialises in market intelligence and strategic communications. We provide solutions and support to major conglomerates, government agencies and many of the world’s largest and best-known financial institutions in all of these areas. For seven years running Insight Discovery has been voted “Best Consultancy Firm in the Middle East” by Global Investor, part of Euromoney. Our proven success shows we are outstanding at what we do.About EquiomEquiom provides sophisticated clients with professional expertise in delivering multi-jurisdictional investment and asset protection solutions. For over 40 years Equiom has offered fiduciary services to the private wealth sector. This heritage underpins our ethos of responsiveness and excellence in client advisory services, leveraging our global industry, asset class and investment structuring expertise. Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited is licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. Equiom (Isle of Man) Limited (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For information on the regulatory status of our companies, please visit equiomgroup.com/regulatory.About Zurich Workplace Solutions

Zurich Workplace Solutions (Middle East) Limited (ZWS), part of the Zurich Insurance Group entities operating within the Middle East, is a DIFC based company. As an administrator of the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) scheme, ZWS facilitates enrolment and management of contributions, enables the investment process and administers withdrawals through an online portal, DIFC based support team and contact centre. Zurich Workplace Solutions is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. For more information about ZWS, visit https://zws.zurich.ae/about-zws.html.About MercerMercer believes in building brighter futures by redefining the world of work, reshaping retirement and investment outcomes, and unlocking real health and well-being. Mercer’s approximately 25,000 employees are based in 43 countries and the firm operates in 130 countries. Mercer is a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people, with 76,000 colleagues and annual revenue of $17 billion. Through its market-leading businesses including Marsh, Guy Carpenter and Oliver Wyman, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment. For more information, visit https://www.me.mercer.com. Follow Mercer on Twitter @Mercer.Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1528364/Insight_Discovery_Survey_Results_Infographic.jpg

HOUSTON, June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Talos Energy Inc. (“Talos” or the “Company”) (NYSE: TALO) today announced that it has formed an exclusive joint venture with Storegga Geotechnologies Limited (“Storegga” and collectively, the “Partners”) to source, evaluate and develop carbon capture and storage (“CCS”) project opportunities on the United States Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico (“GOM”), including state and federal waters offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Partners are actively exploring opportunities with counterparties along the CCS value chain.Under the joint venture framework, the Partners, in collaboration, will originate and mature CCS ventures with emitters, infrastructure providers, service companies and financing partners, among others. The joint venture combines the strengths of Talos’s offshore operational and sub-surface expertise with Storegga’s leading end-to-end CCS project experience. Under the terms of the agreement, as individual CCS projects are matured in the future, each will be ring-fenced with separate operating agreements, financing structures and the possibility of additional working interest partners. The agreement requires zero up front capital commitments, and the Partnership will share costs 50/50 in the initial phases. Talos is designated as the operating partner of the joint venture. Storegga is a European leader in CCS as a lead developer of the Acorn CCS and Acorn Hydrogen Projects and also is actively developing a cutting edge direct carbon air capture (“DAC”) project. The Acorn project is the most advanced large-scale CCS project in the United Kingdom with final investment decision (“FID”) expected in 2022. As one of the leading independent operators in the Gulf Coast and GOM, Talos’s core skill set naturally complements CCS project requirements, particularly with respect to CO2 injection and storage, including geology and geophysics, reservoir engineering, drilling and completion operational excellence, regulatory processes and inland water and offshore logistics. The United States Gulf Coast is a prime location for offshore carbon capture projects in the U.S. The area contains some of the nation’s highest concentrations of power generation, industrial and petrochemical facilities, including 100+ facilities emitting more than 1,000,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. In addition to the large industrial multi-national companies and conglomerates present in the region, there is also a high density of smaller private and “middle-market” industrial sites which may require CCS solutions in the future. This critical industrial network is immediately adjacent to a large natural carbon storage province located offshore in shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico Shelf and potentially holding over 30 gigatons of available storage in geological structures with the necessary rock properties and fluid type to effectively store significant CO2 volumes. With its long history as a prolific energy producing region, the Gulf of Mexico also offers vast infrastructure and service networks as well as a capable labor force. These essential technical and commercial elements can supply the growing demand for large-scale CCS emissions solutions in one of the biggest industrial regions in the world.

Talos President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Duncan commented: “We’re excited to announce this joint venture with Storegga and thrilled to partner with their team as they expand into the United States. Engaging in CCS projects along the Gulf Coast and shallow water Gulf of Mexico compliments our operating skill set and diversifies the Company to seize this significant market opportunity. We have a responsibility to deliver affordable, reliable energy with the lowest carbon footprint possible, and this joint venture allows us to expand our impact beyond our own assets to provide solutions for removing emissions from critical industrial sectors in our backyard. We are actively working on a host of ideas and are proud to be an exclusive operating partner with a recognized leader in the rapidly-evolving CCS space.”Storegga Chief Executive Officer Nick Cooper commented: “The rapid deployment of CCS and carbon management value chains requires appropriate geological storage for carbon sequestration, access to emitters and existing infrastructure, and partnerships with experienced, like-minded organizations that share the desire to make this happen. The US Gulf Coast offers significant potential for CCS and we are delighted to be partnering with Talos, a leading offshore operator. The joint venture demonstrates the international opportunities for Storegga as an independent developer of CCS infrastructure. We hope that it will be the first of many.”ABOUT TALOS ENERGY Talos Energy (NYSE: TALO) is a technically driven diversified energy company focused on safely and responsibly maximizing long-term value through our operations in the United States and offshore Mexico, both upstream through oil and gas exploration and production and downstream through the development of future carbon capture and storage opportunities. As one of the Gulf of Mexico’s largest public independent producers, we leverage decades of technical and offshore operational expertise towards the acquisition, exploration and development of upstream energy assets in key geological trends. With a focus on environmental stewardship, we are also utilizing our expertise to reduce industrial emissions through our carbon capture and storage joint venture along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Gulf of Mexico. For more information, visit www.talosenergy.com.ABOUT STOREGGA

Storegga exists to pioneer carbon reduction and removal projects for the net zero world. It aims to champion and deliver CCS, hydrogen, and other subsurface renewable projects in the UK and internationally to accelerate carbon emission reductions. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Pale Blue Dot Energy, Storegga is the lead developer of the Acorn Project in North East Scotland, providing essential infrastructure to help the UK and Europe meet net zero targets.INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTSSergio Maiworm+1.713.328.3008 investor@talosenergy.comFor more info on Storegga, Pale Blue Dot or Acorn contact storegga_media@camarco.co.uk or 020 3757 4980 For more information on Acorn visit: www.theacornproject.uk 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this communication, the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “forecast, “may,” “objective,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. These risks include, but are not limited to, the success of the Company’s exclusive joint venture with Storegga, commodity price volatility, including the sharp decline in oil prices beginning in March 2020, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) and governmental measures related thereto on global demand for oil and natural gas and on the operations of our business, the ability or willingness of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and non-OPEC countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, to set and maintain oil production levels and the impact of any such actions, lack of transportation and storage capacity as a result of oversupply, government regulations and actions or other factors, inflation, lack of availability of drilling and production equipment and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating reserves and in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, the possibility that the anticipated benefits of recent acquisitions are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of such acquisitions, and other factors that may affect our future results and business, generally, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 11, 2021 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2021. Should one or more of these risks occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication. Estimates for our future production volumes are based on assumptions of capital expenditure levels and the assumption that market demand and prices for oil and gas will continue at levels that allow for economic production of these products. The production, transportation, marketing and storage of oil and gas are subject to disruption due to transportation, processing and storage availability, mechanical failure, human error, hurricanes and numerous other factors. Our estimates are based on certain other assumptions, such as well performance, which may vary significantly from those assumed. Therefore, we can give no assurance that our future production volumes will be as estimated.

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HONG KONG, June 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) is pleased to announce the launch of the first “Know You Can” local hero video on World Environment Day (5 June 2021) featuring Lance Lau, a Hong Kong-based 12-year-old youth climate activist, to highlight the imminent threat of climate change. It calls out that, just like Lance, with confidence, passion and actions, we can make a positive difference as a community to protect our earth. The video will be promoted through digital, social media channels and AXA website, together with useful green tips for everyone to join hands with AXA and pitch in the “Go Green” movement. In Lance’s view, big change begins with little things. This echoes AXA’s strong belief in combating climate change. AXA has pledged to join forces with local communities to achieve the global “Net Zero” goal through a series of green actions and community projects across various areas. Through this kick-off video, AXA hopes to inspire and encourage customers to support “Go Green” in their everyday life including subscribing to the e-services in Emma by AXA and replacing physical policy documents with eStatements / eAdvices.Andrea Wong, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer of AXA Hong Kong and Macau, said, “Climate change poses a serious threat to our environment and everyone has a role to play to help build a more sustainable future. We are delighted to launch this powerful local hero series as an extension of our global brand campaign to further reinforce our brand promise ‘Know You Can’ and bring to life our Purpose ‘Act for human progress by protecting what matters’. Through such a genuine story of Lance, we hope to inspire people to embrace the future with confidence and combat climate change together. Lance’s video is only the first in our ‘Know You Can’ video series, we will be sharing more stories of local heroes who have demonstrated the power of leveraging confidence to create a better world.”

For more details of this brand campaign, please visit www.axa.com.hkABOUT AXA HONG KONG AND MACAUAXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 54 markets and serving 105 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters. As one of the most diversified insurers offering integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance, our goal is to be the insurance and holistic wellness partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve.  At the core of our service commitment is continuous product innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers and leveraging technology and digital transformation.

We embrace our responsibility to be a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first insurer in Hong Kong and Macau to address the important need of mental health through different products and services. For example, the Mind Charger function on our holistic wellness platform “AXA BetterMe”, which is available via our mobile app Emma by AXA, is open to not just our customers, but the community at large. We will continue to foster social progress through our product offerings and community investment to support the sustainable development of Hong Kong and Macau. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HKIMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSCertain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.   

SOURCE AXA Hong Kong and Macau

(RTTNews) – Asian stock markets are mostly lower on Tuesday, following the mixed cues from Wall Street overnight. Investors await key U.S. inflation data due on Thursday for more indications about the Fed’s policy outlook and cues about the global economic recovery. The coronavirus infection rate in the region is also keeping the underlying mood cautious. Asian stocks ended mixed on Monday.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said a “slightly higher” interest rate environment would be an advantage to the economy.

The Australian stock market is modestly lower after alternating between red and green in choppy trading on Tuesday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 falling below the 7,300 level after hitting fresh all-time highs, as local data showed that business sentiment eased from last month’s record highs. Meanwhile, traders are optimistic as domestic new coronavirus cases declined.

New COVID-19 infection cases in the country’s second-most populous state of Victoria were just two, both linked to the current outbreaks. Currently, there are 92 active cases in the state after the lockdown was extended in Melbourne area.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index is losing 12.30 points or 0.17 percent to 7,269.60, after touching a high of 7,315.60 earlier. The broader All Ordinaries Index is down 10.40 points or 0.14 percent to 7,521.20. Australian markets ended slightly lower on Monday.

Among the major miners, BHP Group is losing almost 1 percent, Rio Tinto is edging down 0.2 percent, and OZ Minerals is down more than 1 percent, while Mineral Resources is gaining almost 1 percent. Fortescue Metals is flat.

Oil stocks are lower after crude oil prices tumbled overnight. Oil Search and Origin Energy are flat, while Santos and Beach energy are edging down 0.2 percent each. Woodside Petroleum is down 0.5 percent.

Among the big four banks, ANZ Banking is flat and National Australia Bank is gaining almost 1 percent, while Commonwealth Bank is edging down 0.3 percent. Westpac is edging up 0.4 percent after it joined rivals in raising interest rates on fixed mortgages.

Among tech stocks, Afterpay and WiseTech Global are gaining almost 2 percent each, while Appen is losing almost 1 percent. Xero is adding more than 1 percent.

Gold miners are mostly higher, with Gold Road Resources and Northern Star Resources gaining more than 1 percent each, while Newcrest Mining is adding almost 1 percent. Resolute Mining and Evolution Mining are flat.

In economic news, Australia’s business confidence index fell to 20 in April, down 3 points from the prior month, survey data from National Australia Bank showed Tuesday.

In the currency market, the Aussie dollar is trading at $0.774 on Tuesday.

The Japanese stock market is modestly lower after being in the green most of the morning in choppy trading on Tuesday, snapping the two straight sessions of gains, with the benchmark Nikkei index just below the 29,000 mark, after the first contraction in GDP since Q2 2020, amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and slow vaccine rollouts. The cues overnight from Wall Street were mixed.

Traders also remaining concerned after the extension of the COVID-19 state of emergency in several major areas until June 20.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index closed the morning session at 28,987.58, down 31.66 points or 0.11 percent, after touching a high of 29,140.68 and a low of 28,958.78 earlier. Japanese shares closed modestly higher on Monday.

Market heavyweight SoftBank Group is losing more than 1 percent and Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing is flat. Among automakers, Honda is gaining almost 1 percent, while Toyota is edging down 0.4 percent and Mazda is down almost 1 percent.

In the tech space, Advantest and Tokyo Electron are flat, while Screen Holdings is up almost 2 percent. In the banking sector, Mizuho Financial is flat, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial is gaining almost 1 percent and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial is edging up 0.3 percent.

The major exporters are mixed, with Sony gaining almost 1 percent and Canon edging up 0.3 percent, while Panasonic is edging down 0.4 percent and Mitsubishi Electric is losing almost 1 percent.

Among the other major gainers, Daiichi Sankyo is gaining almost 5 percent, while Trend Micro, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha are adding more than 4 percent each. Tokyu Fudosan and Sapporo Holdings are up more than 3 percent each, while Z Holdings, Kirin Holdings, Kansai Electric Power, Isuzu Motors, Yamaha Motor, Nippon Suisan Kaisha and Rakuten Group are all higher by more than 2 percent each.

Conversely, Sumitomo Metal Mining is losing more than 3 percent, while Daikin Industries is down almost 3 percent and Ebara is declining more than 2 percent. Oji Holdings, Taisei, Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Toho Zinc and Kajima are all lower by almost 2 percent each.

In economic news, Japan’s gross domestic product contracted an annualized 3.9 percent on year in the first quarter of 2021, the Cabinet Office said in Tuesday’s final reading. That exceeded expectations for a decline of 4.8 percent following the 11.7 percent surge in the three months prior. On a quarterly basis, GDP was down 1.0 percent – again beating forecasts for a decline of 1.2 percent following the 2.8 percent increase in the previous three months. Capital expenditure was down 1.2 percent on quarter, matching expectations following the 4.3 percent gain in the previous quarter.

Separately, the Ministry of Finance said that Japan posted a current account surplus of 1,321.8 billion yen in April. That missed expectations for a surplus of 1,500.6 billion yen following the 2,650.1 billion yen surplus in March. Exports were up 38.0 percent on year at 6,825.5 billion yen and imports gained an annual 11.3 percent at 6,536.0 billion yen for a trade surplus of 289.5 billion yen. The capital account showed a surplus of 3.4 billion yen, while the financial account saw a shortfall of 242.7 billion yen.

The Bank of Japan also said that overall bank lending in Japan was up 2.9 percent on year in May, standing at 578.366 trillion yen. That follows the 4.8 percent increase in April. Excluding trusts, bank lending gained an annual 2.2 percent to 501.954 trillion yen, slowing from the 4.3 percent expansion in the previous month. Lending from trusts climbed 7.5 percent on year to 76.411 trillion yen after rising 8.3 percent a month earlier. Lending from foreign banks rose 2.5 percent on year to 3.381 trillion yen, up from 1.2 percent in April.

In the currency market, the U.S. dollar is trading in the lower 109 yen-range on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Asia, China, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong is lower by between 0.4 and 0.7 percent each. New Zealand and Malaysia are higher by 0.2 and 0.5 percent, respectively. South Korea and Taiwan are little changed.

On the Wall Street, stocks showed a lack of direction over the course of the trading session on Monday before eventually ending the session mixed. The lackluster performance came on the heels of the advance seen last week.

While the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 67.23 points or 0.5 percent to 13,881.72, the Dow fell 126.15 points or 0.4 percent to 34,630.24 and the S&P 500 edged down 3.37 points or 0.1 percent to 4,226.52.

The major European markets also ended the day mixed. While the German DAX Index edged down 0.1 percent, the U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index inched up by 0.1 percent and the French CAC 40 Index rose by 0.4 percent.

Crude oil prices drifted lower Monday, coming off 30-month highs after data showed a drop in China’s crude oil imports in April. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for July ended down by $0.39 or 0.6 percent at $69.23 a barrel.