Hang Seng Index strengthened before noon, up more than 2%. XPeng (09868.HK) led gains, rising over 8%; internet/tech stocks outperformed—Kuaishou (01024.HK) up about 6%, Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) up about 3%.

加拿大央行行长麦克勒姆：最大风险是与中东的冲突以及与美国的贸易关系。

US forces have struck Iran for five consecutive days to degrade Tehran’s attack capability in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has threatened to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges next week if no deal is reached; Tehran warns continued US attacks would spread the conflict. A Cambridge international politics lecturer says the White House will likely return to negotiations ahead of US midterms, adding Iran wants talks and the door is open but has lost trust in the US after previous withdrawals from agreements. Earlier this year a memorandum reached after a joint action with Israel set a 60‑day target for a permanent ceasefire, but the truce collapsed after Iran struck vessels it accused of unauthorised transit and the US responded with escalating strikes. The lecturer said Iran’s weak pre-conflict economy — and the potential for higher oil, inflation and fertilizer prices — could push both sides back to the table, while US midterm political pressure raises Washington’s incentive to negotiate.