Australian S&P/ASX 200 fell 58.80 points (-0.67%) to 8,749.60 at the close on Thursday, June 25.

Beijing on June 25 said it is conducting law-enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular briefing. Citing Chinese domestic law and UNCLOS, he said China has an EEZ and continental shelf east of Taiwan and that the patrols are a lawful exercise of jurisdiction to safeguard regional stability and maritime order. The ministry framed the patrols as responses to what it described as Japan’s and the Philippines’ manipulation of maritime delimitation that infringes China’s maritime rights, and urged those countries to respect China’s sovereignty and stop actions or statements that could escalate tensions. It also criticised Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party for aligning with external forces and attacking Beijing’s rights-defence measures.

港股华虹宏力(01347.HK)突破200港元续刷历史新高，年内涨幅超170%。