South Korea's KOSPI turned negative intraday, down 0.6%; Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each fell about 2%.

S&P Global deputy director for economics Annabel Fiddes said the latest PMI shows Japan's manufacturing delivered its strongest quarterly performance in over 12 years in June. Production expanded as client demand improved and overall new orders rose at the fastest pace in about 4.5 years, led by AI-related technologies and robust semiconductor demand. Growth was at least partly driven by inventory hoarding amid the Middle East war. Supplier performance deteriorated sharply again in June due to shipping delays and supplier shortages, keeping inflationary pressures among the most severe since the PMI series began in 2001—input costs and selling prices both rose rapidly. Fiddes warned there is significant uncertainty about whether the strength will extend into H2, as short-term hoarding may fade, especially if costs continue rising and customer spending weakens.

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei said communication channels with the US are political rather than military.