US Richmond Fed manufacturing index (July) 5, prior 4.

Mediators told the Times of Israel they believe a breakthrough could restart the US‑Iran memorandum of understanding signed last month on operations in the Strait of Hormuz, but the plan awaits a final White House decision after President Trump’s meeting with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu. Pakistan, Egypt and Qatar are discussing a mediators’ proposal to reconcile differences — Iran says the MoU grants it some control over the strait, the US disputes that — and Iran and Oman have approved the proposal. The MoU’s 60‑day term expires next month.

July 27 — Shanghai Guotou and the Shanghai branch of the Export-Import Bank of China signed a strategic cooperation memorandum to deepen strategic linkage between state capital and policy finance. The parties will concentrate policy-financial products on supporting key strategic projects, explore new investment-loan coordination models, and jointly cultivate new-quality productive capacity.