China Maritime Safety Administration posted a navigation warning from the Qinglan Maritime Safety Bureau: rocket launches will take place in parts of the South China Sea on Aug 16–17, daily 11:00–13:00; vessels are prohibited from entering the affected areas.

ChiNext index turned negative in the afternoon after rising more than 2% in early trade.

CITIC Securities said in a research note that July US CPI met expectations, core inflation remained mild and second‑round effects were weak, easing inflation risks. The firm judges US inflation is not highly sticky and expects headline CPI YoY to continue moderating through Q3, trough in September, rebound slightly in Q4 and then fall rapidly by March next year. CITIC still forecasts the Fed will keep policy unchanged this year and sees further room for derivatives to reprice lower on rate‑hike expectations.