Five key factors driving markets today - Bloomberg

As noted by Bloomberg, there are five key factors weighing on investors as global markets head through Wednesday's early trading session, and most broad-market concerns are still centered around China, trade barriers, and Saudi Arabia's slaying of a journalist.

Key quotes

"U.S. stocks closed lower for a fifth day, as an afternoon rally from the lowest levels for the S&P 500 since May fell short of pushing benchmark indexes back into positive territory."

"Expectations for a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Xi are already being lowered with officials from both sides increasingly pessimistic about prospects for a resolution to their deepening trade war."

"China Everbright Ltd., the state-backed manager of about HK$139 billion ($18 billion) in assets, said the company is preparing to sell shares on concern that valuations worldwide have peaked."

"A smiling Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman showed up at a global investment summit in Riyadh on Tuesday, drawing applause and posing for photographs, as the kingdom sought to restrict the damage from the murder of a leading Saudi critic. Outrage over the fate of Jamal Khashoggi has overshadowed the conference, with dozens of bankers, executives and foreign dignitaries dropping out as it emerged the Washington Post columnist was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul."

"Asia traders hoping for some positive leads out of the U.S. overnight might be disappointed, though at least stocks ended well off session lows. Wednesday brings a relatively light data docket for Asia -- Japan's flash manufacturing PMI and Malaysian CPI are the highlights."