China A-share gaming sector rallied at the open; Glacier Network rose more than 12%, Caesar Culture hit the daily trading limit, Giant Network climbed over 9%, and Kaiying Network and Perfect World also gained.

Before the Fed decision the dollar index was flat amid unusually high outcome uncertainty. Goldman Sachs economists expect the Fed to hold today but anticipate at least one dissenting vote for a hike, noting war-driven energy-price volatility clouds the outlook. Market pricing assigns roughly a 30% chance of a rate increase today; CME data shows investors have priced in a September hike. Goldman says if the Fed holds, FX markets will focus on how much previously priced-in tightening shifts to later meetings.

July 30 — China's Defense Ministry said at a routine briefing that Sino-Russian joint patrols occurred on the high seas, not within any Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Spokesman Senior Colonel Jiang Bin said Okinotorishima reef measures under 10 sq m, is only exposed after artificial reinforcement and cannot sustain human habitation, so it does not meet UNCLOS's definition of an island. Beijing called Japan's use of the designation to assert EEZ and continental-shelf rights untenable, said the China-Russia actions complied with international law and practice, and said Japan had no basis to object.