Asian stocks edged marginally lower as investors largely stayed on the sidelines amid a lack of fresh catalysts ahead of key US economic data. Treasuries held their gains. In Asia, Samsung was one of the first major companies to report preliminary earnings. For more on what is moving the markets, we turn to Paul Dobson, Bloomberg's Executive Editor for Asia Markets.

Plus - the US government is taking control of Venezuelan crude, which could reinvigorate flows of Venezuelan crude to American refineries after years of sanctions. The return of Venezuelan barrels to US buyers could mark one of the most significant shifts in global energy markets in recent years, and has already sent Canadian crude prices plunging. For more on the long term outlook in oil, we heard from Vandana Hari, Founder of Vanda Insights. She spoke to Bloomberg's Paul Allen and Avril Hong on the Asia Trade.