US initial jobless claims for the week ended July 25: 197,000 vs 200,000 consensus; prior week revised to 188,000 from 187,000.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said the Fed faces important decisions in the period ahead.

Pakistan has reached an agreement with Iran to guarantee safe transit for at least one Qatari LNG cargo as part of efforts to ease an intensifying energy crisis. The vessel Al Areesh loaded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal in early July, remained in the Persian Gulf and transited the Strait of Hormuz early Thursday; its AIS was active and its displayed destination is Pakistan. A source said the arrangement could be applied to additional LNG shipments.