The People’s Bank of China has transitioned to a proactive easing stance to address domestic supply-demand imbalances, ending a three-month liquidity contraction. Supported by a resilient yuan, the central bank is leveraging quantitative tools to drive recovery while maintaining caution on aggressive rate cuts.

China's tech-focused STAR 50 recorded a historic daily gain of 8.41%, driven by record highs for SMIC and a massive rotation into semiconductor materials. Market turnover reached nearly 3 trillion RMB, indicating high liquidity and a clear investor preference for domestic technology over traditional energy sectors.

Brent crude prices jumped toward $80 per barrel following U.S. strikes on Iranian oil export hubs, signaling a return to high-intensity conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation threatens global energy supply chains despite administration claims that a global oil surplus will mitigate long-term volatility.

The NHSA reported a 100% increase in medical institutions stocking commercial catalog drugs, facilitating access to 19 high-value innovative treatments. This multi-tiered system aims to sustain pharmaceutical innovation while preserving the state’s basic insurance fund through city-specific insurance partnerships.

U.S. President Trump has sparked a major rift at the 2026 NATO summit by threatening to halt trade with Spain over defense spending and Iran policy. Despite rising European military investment, the alliance is facing extreme fragmentation, with officials considering skipping future summits to avoid public dissolution.