Refinitiv/Ipsos poll shows 64% of independent voters support higher taxes on corporations and billionaires, while 15% oppose.

U.S. initial jobless claims rose 1,000 to 199,000 in the week ended Aug. 1, below the 202,000 consensus, keeping labor-market resilience intact. Claims have fallen sharply since an early-June spike, though some of the decline may reflect seasonal-adjustment challenges over the summer. Separately, announced corporate layoffs in July fell to a two-year low, concentrated in the tech sector; there is no sign yet that AI infrastructure build-out is triggering broad job losses, and layoffs remained low despite oil-price shocks from fighting involving the U.S., Israel and Iran.

China's equities closed higher on Friday, Aug. 7: Shanghai Composite +1.02% to 3,940.04; Shenzhen Composite +1.42% to 14,311.01; CSI 300 Index +0.93% to 4,694.44; ChiNext Index +1.35% to 3,563.12; STAR 50 Index +2.51% to 1,744.02.