Italy June harmonized CPI (HICP) preliminary YoY 3.1% vs 3.2% expected, prior 3.20%.

South Korea's KOSPI rose about 1% and Japan's Nikkei 225 gained about 0.9% on the day as chip stocks capped a strong first half. KOSPI has rallied roughly 100% in 1H, briefly touching a historical high of 9,385; Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are up about 180% and 310% year-to-date. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 is up about 40% in 1H and TOPIX about 17%, with chip-equipment names Advantest and Tokyo Electron up roughly 65% and over 120%, respectively. Drivers include AI-driven memory-chip demand, semiconductor supply-chain strength and corporate reform momentum.

Market research firm Omdia's latest XR Near‑Eye Display report says after a sharp contraction in 2025 the global near‑eye display market should rebound in 2026, with revenue of $675 mln (up 12% YoY) and shipments of 14.53 mln units (up 16% YoY). Omdia identifies rapid expansion in the AR glasses segment as the primary growth driver.